VIJAYAWADA: The State Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, took a key decision to form two new districts and to make Madanapalle the headquarters of Annamayya district.
This move will increase the number of districts in Andhra Pradesh to 28 from the existing 26 with the formation of Markapuram and Polavaram as new districts.
Rampachodavaram will be the headquarters of the Polavaram district.
The changes in districts, revenue divisions and mandals will come into effect from December 31.
The government had issued a preliminary notification on November 27, inviting suggestions and objections from the public and took the decision to constitute two new districts based on the feedback received from the people.
Disclosing the details of the Cabinet’s decision to the media, Ministers Anagani Satya Prasad (Revenue), Nadendla Manohar (Civil Supplies) and Satya Kumar Yadav (Medical and Health) said that a lengthy discussion was held on the reorganisation of districts.
The Ministers stated that changes were made with regard to revenue divisions and mandals in 17 districts, while no changes were made in nine districts, including Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu and Anantapur.
Railway Kodur segment to come under Tirupati
The name of Penukonda in West Godavari district was changed to Vasavi Penukonda as per the aspirations of the people, the Revenue Minister said.
While the Addanki constituency was merged into the Prakasam district from the Bapatla district, the new Markapuram district will be formed with Markapuram, Kanigiri, Yerragondapalem and Giddalur constituencies.
While the Railway Kodur constituency will be merged into Tirupati district, the Rajampet constituency will be merged into Kadapa district. Rayachoti constituency will be retained in Annamayya district, with Madanapalle as its headquarters.
Similarly, Banaganapalle in the combined Kurnool district and Addaroad in the Anakapalle district will be constituted as sub-divisions.
Madakasira will be formed as a revenue division, and Adoni mandal, which is larger in area, will be divided into Adoni-1 and Adoni-2 mandals.
Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who represents the Rayachoti constituency, was seen weeping while coming out of the Cabinet meeting following the decision to make Madanapalle the headquarters of Annamayya district instead of Rayachoti.
After receiving a call from the Chief Minister’s Office, the Minister met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who assured him of the all-round development of Rayachoti.