Revival Of Amaravati: All You Need To Know About Andhra Pradesh Capital

The political landscape of Andhra Pradesh has once again turned its spotlight on Amaravati, the ambitious state capital project. The return of the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party to power has reignited hopes among farmers and residents who have long been advocating for the development of Amaravati as the sole capital of the state.

This renewed focus comes after a tumultuous period under the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party, which had floated the idea of a triple-capital set-up for the state — executive capital in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial in Kurnool — leading to years of protests and uncertainty.

Take a look at how close Amaravati is to some of the urban hubs of Andhra and the country:

Work for the Amaravati capital restarted on June 12, with activities commencing at Uddandarayunipalem, where the foundation stone was originally laid. Chief Secretary Neerabh Prasad announced this plan, saying that the government aimed to address farmers' issues and expedite construction following the new administration's swearing-in. An action plan is being developed to resume halted projects, focusing on restoring infrastructure and cleaning the area.

Amaravati was a meticulously planned project inspired by global cities like Singapore. Spanning 217 square kilometres and divided into nine theme cities and 27 townships, Amaravati was designed to be developed in three phases: the seed area or core capital, the capital city, and the capital region. This sustainable city was to be connected by e-buses, water taxis, metros, and bicycles, reflecting a commitment to eco-friendly infrastructure.

Andhra could potentially receive financial assistance from the Union government through a special package aimed at aiding the construction of its capital.

The state might be granted special status in the form of financial aid for Amaravati's construction, as this proposal has already received the President's assent and was previously passed in Parliament, according to NR Bhanumurthy, vice chancellor of Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics University.

On Oct. 22, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for Amaravati, marking the beginning of what was envisioned as a "futuristic capital" for Andhra Pradesh.

The plan aimed to transform what was previously a stretch of land between Vijayawada and Guntur into an environmentally sustainable metropolis.

This vision was spearheaded by the then chief minister Naidu. To bring this vision to life, his administration acquired approximately 30,000 acres of land from farmers through a land pooling scheme.

The political winds shifted in 2019 when the YSRCP, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, won the assembly elections. One of Reddy’s significant moves was to halt the Amaravati project, citing irregularities in the awarding of contracts.

Instead, he proposed a new plan involving three capitals to decentralise governance. This decision sparked widespread protests and resistance, particularly from the Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi, a group fervently opposing the three-capital proposal.

The farmers of Amaravati were at the forefront of this resistance. For 1,631 days, they held protest camps, demanding the development of Amaravati as the sole state capital. The movement saw two major foot marches aimed at mobilising public support and drawing attention to their cause.

The TDP’s return to power has brought a sense of renewed optimism among Amaravati’s farmers and residents. On June 12, 2024, mere hours after Naidu and his council of ministers took their oaths in Vijayawada, the farmers began dismantling their protest camps.

With the TDP back in power, the promise of a futuristic, sustainable capital seems once again within reach.