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Andhra Assembly Seeks Statutory Capital Status for Amaravati in Landmark Move

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to grant statutory recognition to Amaravati as the state's official capital. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu moved the resolution, emphasizing the need for legal certainty through amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The resolution specifically seeks to insert "at Amaravati" into the Act and define its area under the APCRDA Act. This move aims to provide stability to the massive greenfield city project, which involves over 34,000 acres of pooled land and investments worth thousands of crores.

Key Points: Andhra Assembly Passes Resolution for Amaravati as Statutory Capital

  • Resolution seeks Centre's legal backing
  • Aims to amend Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act
  • Clarifies Amaravati's jurisdiction under APCRDA
  • Project involves Rs 64,000 crore investment
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Andhra Assembly passes resolution seeking statutory capital status for Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Assembly passes a resolution urging the Centre to grant statutory capital status to Amaravati, seeking legal clarity and stability.

Andhra Assembly passes resolution seeking statutory capital status for Amaravati
"statutory backing is the final seal needed to protect the dreams of the people - Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu"

Amaravati, March 28

In a definitive move to resolve years of administrative and legal ambiguity, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday moved a landmark resolution in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, urging the Centre to grant statutory recognition to Amaravati as the official capital of the state.

A special Assembly session was convened specifically to deliberate and pass this resolution, marking a significant step toward providing long-term stability and legal clarity to the capital city issue.

During his address, the Chief Minister emphasised that permanent legal certainty can only be achieved through specific amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

The Andhra Pradesh Assembly subsequently resolved to request the Government of India to amend Section 5 of the Act by explicitly inserting the words "at Amaravati" into sub-section (2).

Furthermore, the resolution seeks to expand the legal explanation to clarify that Amaravati encompasses all areas officially notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Act, 2014.

This legislative push comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented urban development effort initiated over a decade ago.

The Amaravati capital project is estimated to be about Rs 64,000 crore, with the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority serving as the implementing agency.

For the Amaravati capital, around 30,000 farmers voluntarily pooled over 34,000 acres of fertile land for the development of a greenfield city.

This massive land bank was intended to host a world-class city, avoiding the traditional delays associated with land acquisition.

Financially, the project has seen a massive infusion of support from both the State and the Centre, besides other agencies.

The Centre committed a dedicated financial package of Rs 15,000 crore for the development of the capital, of which about Rs 4,200 crore has reportedly been released, while international agencies, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, have moved forward with loans totalling approximately Rs 13,500 crore.

Domestic institutions like HUDCO have also stepped in with a Rs 11,000 crore credit line to jumpstart stalled infrastructure.

Concluding his speech, Chief Minister Naidu urged all members of the House to support the resolution, stating that statutory backing is the final seal needed to protect the dreams of the people and the investments made by thousands of farmers.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an observer, I appreciate the attempt to bring stability. However, the article mentions Rs 64,000 crore. That's an enormous sum. I hope there is transparent accounting for every rupee spent, especially with loans from World Bank and ADB. Public money must be used wisely.
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Priya S
My family is from Guntur district. The uncertainty over the capital has hurt development in the entire region for years. Statutory status will unlock investments and jobs. Jai Amaravati! 🏛️
R
Rohit P
30,000 farmers pooled 34,000 acres with a dream. It's the government's duty to honor that trust. This resolution is a step in the right direction. The Centre must support Andhra Pradesh in this.
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Ananya R
While I support the need for a permanent capital, I have a respectful criticism. The article talks about a "greenfield city" on fertile land. Was a comprehensive environmental impact assessment done for such a large project on agricultural land? Development is important, but so is sustainability.
M
Michael C
Interesting to see the scale of international funding involved (World Bank, ADB). This kind of project needs long-term political consensus beyond party lines to succeed. Hope this resolution brings that stability.

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