Published Mar 29, 2026 | 9:58 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 29, 2026 | 9:58 AM
Dhyana Buddha Statue in Amaravati. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the state’s permanent capital. The resolution has been sent to Delhi, which is likely to be moved in the ongoing session of Parliament as an amendment to the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Saturday, 28 March, unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the state’s permanent capital.
Moved by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the resolution seeks amendments to Section 5(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act to explicitly include the phrase “at Amaravati,” thereby formalising it as the capital. It also calls for extending capital region status to areas notified under the AP CRDA Act.
The resolution has been sent to Delhi, which is likely to be moved in the ongoing session of Parliament as an amendment to the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Replying to the debate, Naidu asserted that Amaravati is the “soul of Andhra Pradesh” and declared that the capital will remain unstoppable, adding that no one can “touch or move even an inch” away from its present location. He reiterated that the state will have only one capital — Amaravati — while development would be decentralised across regions.
The chief minister thanked all members for supporting the resolution and said the move reflects the collective will of the House. He urged the Union government to act on the Assembly’s recommendation and provide statutory backing to the capital.
Targeting the Opposition, Naidu accused the YSRCP of continuing its “conspiracy” against Amaravati. Lashing out at YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for his remarks that made no mention of the word “capital” in the Constitution, he said the country follows the Constitution framed by BR Ambedkar and not any “parallel framework.”
He also criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy for what he described as “shifting stand,” recalling that the latter had earlier supported Amaravati as capital.
Naidu highlighted that the Sivaramakrishnan Committee had indicated a preference for locating the capital between Vijayawada and Guntur. He said Amaravati was conceived as a self-sustaining project capable of generating economic activity and employment.
Emphasising the role of farmers, the chief minister said over 34,000 acres were voluntarily pooled within 58 days. “They have given not just land, but the future of the state,” he said, expressing gratitude and assuring that their sacrifices would be honoured.
Naidu said Amaravati would be developed as a “Blue-Green” sustainable city and a world-class urban centre. While maintaining that the capital would remain one, he said development would be spread across the Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, and Tirupati regions.
He also referred to Amaravati’s historical legacy, noting that it had served as a capital during the Satavahana period and that its heritage is documented in places like the British Museum.
Criticising the previous regime, Naidu alleged that development was stalled and the state pushed backwards. He said works in Amaravati have now resumed with Central assistance of ₹15,000 crore, and that 91 projects worth ₹56,000 crore are under execution. He set 2027 as the target for completing core infrastructure and 2028 for overall development of the capital.
Speaker Chintakayala Ayyanna Patrudu forwarded the resolution to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Lok Sabha Speaker, and the Union Home Ministry for further consideration.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
