The Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally designating Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. The legislation aims to end years of uncertainty surrounding the state’s capital status by providing clear legal backing under central law.
The bill received broad support across party lines, although the YSR Congress Party staged a walkout in protest. Once enacted, the law will take retrospective effect from June 2, 2024, ensuring that Amaravati’s status as the capital cannot be altered in the future.
Long-Standing Capital Dispute
The issue dates back to the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which led to the creation of Telangana and bifurcation of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. At the time, Hyderabad was designated as the joint capital for both states for a period of up to ten years. However, the Act did not explicitly name a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh, leading to prolonged political and administrative debates.
Initially, Amaravati was proposed as the capital under former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who initiated a large-scale land pooling exercise involving nearly 30,000 acres. Following a change in government in 2019, the YSR Congress Party introduced a decentralised governance model proposing three capitals—Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital. This proposal sparked widespread debate over governance efficiency and regional development.
Amendment Brings Policy Clarity
The newly passed amendment seeks to resolve these disputes by clearly identifying Amaravati as the state’s sole capital. By removing legal ambiguity, the legislation aims to provide stability in governance and prevent future policy reversals.
Experts believe the move could accelerate infrastructure development and improve investor confidence by ensuring policy consistency. The decision is also expected to revive stalled projects and align with the state’s long-term urban planning goals.
With this development, Andhra Pradesh moves towards a more centralised administrative framework, marking the end of nearly a decade of uncertainty over its capital city.
