Leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced that Amaravati will be the capital of Andhra Pradesh. This announcement was made a day before his oath-taking as the Chief Minister. Naidu also affirmed that Amaravati will be the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. Previously, ex-CM Jagan Mohan Reddy had proposed a 'Three Capital' formula.
Chandrababu Naidu stated that Amaravati will be the only capital. Visakhapatnam will be developed as the state's economic capital.
Naidu took oath as Chief Minister on Wednesday, with the NDA winning 164 out of the 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress is limited to 11 seats.
With TDP's return to power, the initiative to establish Amaravati as the new capital has gained momentum. Naidu had proposed this during his previous tenure, and work was underway, but it was put on hold after TDP's defeat in the 2019 assembly elections. When Jagan Mohan Reddy became the CM in 2019, he proposed three capitals for Andhra - Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Kurnool. However, the High Court had barred this move, and the matter now rests with the Supreme Court.
Why Amaravati?
After Andhra Pradesh was divided in 2014, creating Telangana as a new state, Hyderabad was made the joint capital for both states for ten years. Post June 2, 2024, Hyderabad will exclusively be the capital of Telangana.
When the bifurcation happened a decade ago, it was decided that Hyderabad would permanently be Telangana's capital while Andhra would establish a new capital.
Upon gaining power in 2014, Naidu declared Amaravati as the capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new capital in Amaravati on October 22, 2015. Moreover, the Naidu government had acquired 33,000 acres of land from farmers for the new capital.
According to the master plan, Amaravati was chosen as the capital because it is strategically located between the two major urban centers of Vijayawada and Guntur. The Andhra government plans to declare the 8,500 square kilometer area surrounding Amaravati as the capital region, which will also include Vijayawada and Guntur.
The name Amaravati stems from the Amaralingeswara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, believed to have been built in the 2nd century. Historically, it was the capital for the Satavahana and Pallava kings. During Emperor Ashoka's Mauryan Empire, a stupa and monastery were also constructed here.
What Will the Capital Amaravati Look Like?
Amaravati Master Plan, available on the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) website, suggests the capital will be developed over 217 square kilometers. Amaravati is envisaged as a world-class city catering to all residents' necessities.
The core capital area will feature government offices, cultural institutions, and public spaces. It will be designed such that all residential areas, commercial zones, educational institutions, and business hubs are connected by roads and public transport.
The master plan estimates that by 2050, Amaravati's population will exceed 3.5 million, with the creation of the capital expecting to generate 1.5 million jobs.
Source: aajtak
How Will the Capital City Amaravati Be Funded?
In 2015, Naidu announced Amaravati to be the capital, and in 2016, he declared the construction of 9 themed cities and 27 townships. According to the 2019 status report, it is estimated that the creation of Amaravati as the capital will cost 1.09 trillion rupees over the next 20 years.
To develop Amaravati as the capital, the World Bank pledged 300 million, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) promised 200 million dollars. However, with TDP's loss of power in 2019, the funding was left uncertain.
In December 2019, Jagan Mohan Reddy proposed a new bill, also known as the 'Three Capital Bill,' stipulating that Andhra Pradesh would have three capitals. First, Vishakhapatnam for administrative operations, second, Amaravati for the legislative assembly, and Kurnool for the High Court. Last year, a CAG report revealed that despite spending 10,000 crores, the acquired land lies unused.
Nonetheless, with Chandrababu Naidu becoming the Chief Minister again, there are renewed hopes for expediting the development of Amaravati as the capital. The presence of TDP in the central government can also accelerate the process.
