Amaravati’s Long Journey to Capital Status

Vijayawada: Amaravati’s journey as the capital of Andhra Pradesh over the past decade has been anything but linear, evolving through phases of grand ambition, political contestation, legal scrutiny, and eventual revival.

From a symbol of aspiration to a focal point of political debate, Amaravati’s evolution encapsulates the complexities of state-building in post-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh. With renewed administrative and policy backing, the capital now appears poised for a fresh chapter, aiming to finally realise its long-delayed promise.

The need for a new capital arose following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, when Hyderabad was designated as a common capital for ten years. In 2015, then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu unveiled Amaravati as a futuristic, world-class capital city on the banks of the Krishna river.

Backed by an unprecedented land pooling initiative, nearly 33,000 acres were voluntarily contributed by farmers, marking one of the largest such exercises. The foundation stone for the capital was laid on October 22, 2015, setting the stage for an ambitious urban project.

Between 2016 and 2019, Amaravati functioned as the de facto administrative hub, with the secretariat and legislative assembly operating from Velagapudi. Infrastructure works gathered pace, and plans for iconic government buildings and urban infrastructure began to take shape.

However, a major political shift in 2019 altered the course of the capital’s development. With YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assuming office as chief minister, the YSRC government proposed a decentralised model of governance. In December 2019, the administration announced a three-capital plan, designating Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the executive capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

The proposal, formalised through legislation in 2020, sparked widespread protests, particularly among Amaravati farmers who had parted with their lands in anticipation of a unified capital. The issue soon moved to the courts, triggering a prolonged phase of legal and political uncertainty.

In November 2021, the state government withdrew the three-capitals legislation, citing legal challenges, though it maintained its commitment to decentralisation. The matter took a decisive turn in March 2022, when the AP high court directed the government to continue developing Amaravati as the capital city, emphasising the obligations arising from the land pooling agreements.

Despite the court’s directive, progress on Amaravati remained slow, and the capital question continued to dominate the state’s political discourse.

A significant milestone was reached on June 2, 2024, when Hyderabad ceased to be the common capital, marking the end of the transitional arrangement under the AP Reorganisation Act.

The political landscape shifted once again in 2024 with the return of Chandrababu Naidu to power.

The new government moved swiftly to revive Amaravati as the sole capital, restarting stalled infrastructure projects and seeking to restore investor confidence.

In the latest developments in 2025 and 2026, efforts gained momentum with both the state and central governments initiating measures to grant legal sanctity to Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. Construction activity has resumed in earnest, with authorities setting timelines to complete major infrastructure within the next few years.