Chandrababu Naidu revives Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s capital vision
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After years of political deadlock and developmental stagnation, Amaravati - the long-envisioned capital city of Andhra Pradesh - is set for a revival under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Backed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Naidu is once again championing the vision of Amaravati as a world-class capital city.
The push for Amaravati first began in 2014, following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the creation of Telangana, which left Hyderabad under Telangana’s control. Naidu, then Chief Minister, identified Amaravati - a historically significant city once central to the Satavahana dynasty - as the site for a new, futuristic capital. Strategically located between Vijayawada and Guntur, the plan was to build a greenfield capital from the ground up.
During his earlier tenure, Naidu’s government secured over 33,000 acres of land from nearly 30,000 farmers across 29 villages through a land-pooling scheme that promised developed plots, financial incentives, and long-term benefits in return.
However, the project came to a standstill in 2019 when the YSR Congress Party, led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, came to power.
Citing concerns over sustainability and equitable development, the new administration proposed a three-capital model - Amaravati for legislation, Visakhapatnam for the executive branch, and Kurnool for the judiciary. This shift triggered protests, particularly among farmers who had surrendered land based on promises tied to the Amaravati master plan.
For the next five years, Amaravati saw minimal progress. Infrastructure remained incomplete, international collaborations were scaled down, and the city’s potential faded into uncertainty. Legal challenges mounted, with citizens forming advocacy groups and filing petitions to uphold the original vision.
A 2023 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged irregularities in expenditures and project implementation, noting that over ₹15,000 crore had already been spent with little to show for it.
Now, with Naidu back in office in 2024, Amaravati’s fate is shifting once again.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for ₹58,000 crore worth of infrastructure projects, ₹49,000 crore of which will be directed specifically toward Amaravati. Planned developments include the state Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, and residences for judicial officers.
Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar recently assured residents in Inavolu village that all 29 villages involved in the land-pooling scheme will benefit from the upcoming development. He emphasised that the contributions of Amaravati’s farmers were instrumental in shaping the current government and that their trust would be honored.
The state now envisions Amaravati as a megacity, with plans to expand by acquiring an additional 40,000 acres. This larger vision includes integrating surrounding municipalities - Vijayawada, Guntur, Mangalagiri, and Tadepalli - through enhanced transport links, such as ring roads, railway connectivity, and a proposed international airport.
