AP Sets Up AER Panel, Notifies Common Zoning Rules

Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh government on Friday constituted an Implementation Committee for the Amaravati Economic Region (AER) and notified the Common Zoning Regulations, 2026, to accelerate infrastructure development, attract investment and streamline urban approvals.

The implementation committee was constituted through G.O.Rt. No. 945 issued by the municipal administration and urban development (CRDA) department, marking the transition of the Amaravati Economic Region from the planning stage to execution. It follows the formation of the Regional Planning Board in February.

The Amaravati Economic Region comprises the districts of NTR, Krishna, Eluru, West Godavari, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Markapuram. The initiative aims to develop Amaravati as the nucleus of a globally competitive economic region through integrated planning, infrastructure development, industrialisation, logistics, urbanisation and investment promotion.

The committee, chaired by the CEO of the Amaravati Economic Region, includes district collectors, municipal commissioners and commissioners of regional development authorities, while the APCRDA commissioner will serve as member-convener. It will prepare an implementation roadmap, coordinate with Central ministries and investors, mobilise funding, resolve land and policy issues, and monitor projects through a digital dashboard.

MA&UD principal secretary S. Suresh Kumar said projects would be prioritised based on economic impact, employment generation, investment potential and implementation readiness, with defined milestones and monthly reviews.

In a separate reform, the government notified the Common Zoning Regulations, 2026, replacing multiple legacy zoning systems with a uniform framework across the state, excluding the Capital City area.

The regulations classify land into nine standard categories and adopt a negative-list approach, allowing compatible activities unless specifically prohibited.

Municipal administration and urban development minister Ponguru Narayana said the reforms were in line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's Swarna Andhra @2047 vision of creating a technology-driven, investor-friendly state. He said the new framework would protect residential and environmentally sensitive areas by restricting hazardous and polluting activities while ensuring transparent, rule-based approvals through the Online Building Permission System and promoting regulated mixed-use development.