In a move to solidify the status of Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has urged the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and officially recognise the city as the state’s capital.
The request was made during Naidu’s meeting with Shah on Friday, where the chief minister highlighted the importance of Amaravati’s designation as the official capital. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which was enacted in 2014 to divide the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh and create the new state of Telangana, did not explicitly name Amaravati as the capital.
Naidu has been a strong advocate for Amaravati, which was selected as the greenfield capital after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. The city, located on the banks of the Krishna River, has been under development since 2015 and is envisioned as a modern, sustainable metropolis that will serve as the administrative, legislative, and judicial center of the state.
In his meeting with the Union Home Minister, Naidu emphasized the need for the Central government to formally recognize Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh. This move, he believes, will provide a stronger legal and administrative foundation for the city’s development and cement its status as the rightful seat of the state government.
The request to amend the AP Reorganisation Act comes at a time when Andhra Pradesh is grappling with the challenge of building a new capital from scratch. The development of Amaravati has been a major focus of the state government, with significant investments being made in infrastructure, housing, and other civic amenities.
By seeking the Central government’s intervention to officially recognize Amaravati as the capital, Naidu aims to secure the long-term stability and legitimacy of the city’s status. This move is seen as a crucial step in ensuring that Andhra Pradesh has a well-defined and recognized administrative center, which will facilitate the state’s progress and development in the years to come.
