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Andhra Pradesh Expands to 28 Districts with New Additions of Polavaram, Markapuram

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the creation of two new districts, Polavaram and Markapuram, bringing the state's total to 28. The reorganization involves changes in 17 districts, based on public feedback received since a 2005 notification, and will come into effect on December 31, 2025. The move corrects what the current TDP government calls the "unscientific" formation of districts by the previous YSRCP administration. The Cabinet meeting also saw emotional discussions over shifting a district headquarters, with the Chief Minister assuring development for affected areas.

Key Points: Andhra Cabinet Approves 2 New Districts, Total Now 28

  • Two new districts approved
  • Total districts now 28
  • Changes in 17 districts
  • Effective from Dec 31, 2025
  • Corrects previous "unscientific" formation
3 min read

Andhra Cabinet approves formation of two new districts

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves Polavaram & Markapuram as new districts, effective Dec 2025, reorganizing boundaries based on public aspirations.

"The decision to reorganise the districts was done as per the aspirations of the people. - State Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad"

Amaravati, Dec 29

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, on Monday, approved formation of two new districts, taking the total number of districts in the state to 28.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved formation of Polavaram and Markapuram districts.

Polavaram district will have Rampachodavaram as its headquarters.

Briefing the media on the Cabinet decisions, state Revenue Minister Anagani Satya Prasad said that the Cabinet approved proposals for changes in 17 out of the total 26 districts.

A total of 25 changes were made in these 17 districts, Minister Satya Prasad added.

He said that there were no changes in the remaining nine districts -- Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu, and Anantapur.

These changes were made based on the requests received from the public after the gazette notification was issued on November 27, 2005, he added.

He said the decision to reorganise the districts was done as per the aspirations of the people.

Final notification will be issued immediately, and all the changes will come into effect from December 31, 2025.

There were some emotional moments during the Cabinet meet over the contentious issue of shifting Annamayya district headquarters from Rayachoti.

Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who represents Rayachoti Assembly constituency, reportedly broke down after the Cabinet approved the proposal to make Madanapalle the headquarters of Annamayya district.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu intervened immediately to console the Minister and explained the technical and administrative challenges involved in retaining Rayachoti as the district headquarters.

The Chief Minister said that the reorganisation was necessary due to "unavoidable circumstances and in the larger public interest".

He added it was not viable to create a district around a single Assembly constituency.

He reassured Minister Ramprasad Reddy that the state government would address all concerns relating to the town's future development.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu assured the Minister that the Rayachoti Assembly constituency would be developed as a major district-level growth centre.

As per the decisions taken by the state Cabinet, Rajampet will be integrated with Kadapa district while Railway Koduru will become part of Tirupati district.

Gudur will be transferred from Tirupati district back to Nellore district.

Five new revenue divisions were also approved by the Cabinet.

After bifurcation in 2014, the truncated Andhra Pradesh was left with only 13 districts. The previous YSRCP government doubled that number to 26 in 2022.

The current Telugu Desam Party-led state government had promised during last year's election that districts would be reorganised and new revenue divisions would be formed to correct the unscientific formation of new districts during the previous YSRCP government.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had said that the ill-conceived decision of the previous YSRCP government on the formation of new districts caused regional differences, as it had not taken into account the aspirations of the people.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the emotional side of politics. The minister breaking down shows how deeply local communities are attached to these administrative decisions. Hope the CM's assurance for Rayachoti's development is fulfilled.
V
Vikram M
From 13 to 28 districts in a decade! While more districts can mean better local focus, let's hope this doesn't just become a way to create more bureaucratic posts and increase government expenditure. The proof will be in improved service delivery.
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Priya S
Good that they are basing it on public requests since 2005. But the timing, right before the new year, and the long lead time until Dec 2025 for implementation feels a bit odd. Why such a long gap if the decision is final?
R
Rohit P
As someone from the region, creating Polavaram district with Rampachodavaram as HQ is a big deal for tribal development. Hope this translates to better roads, schools, and hospitals for the agency areas. Fingers crossed!
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Michael C
The article reads like a constant blame game between the TDP and YSRCP. Every new government undoes what the previous one did, calling it "unscientific." When will administration be about long-term planning rather than political one-upmanship?
A
Ananya R
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