VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has termed the granting of legal status to Capital Amaravati a historic victory of the people, asserting that it reflects the collective will of both the State and the Centre.
He further said the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in both Houses of Parliament marks a decisive moment in AP’s post-bifurcation journey and brings clarity to the long-pending capital issue.
“Capital construction is a long-term process. The development of Amaravati will continue in a phased and sustainable manner. Amaravati will emerge as an unstoppable and permanent capital. The entire area notified by the Capital Region Development Authority will be recognised as the capital region now with full legal sanctity,” he said, cautioning that any attempts to hinder the progress of Amaravati will not succeed.
Addressing the media at his Undavalli camp office on Friday, Naidu said the bill on Amaravati received widespread support in Parliament.
Naidu thanks Modi, Shah for passage of Amaravati bill in Parl
He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on behalf of the people of AP for the passage of the bill providing legal sanctity to Capital Amaravati.
“With legal sanctity, Amaravati development will move forward with renewed momentum, paving the way for a stronger and more prosperous Andhra Pradesh,” he asserted.
Emphasising the emotional and cultural significance of Amaravati, he said the capital was symbolically sanctified with soil and water collected from temples and sacred places across the country.
He also recalled that the Prime Minister contributed soil from Parliament and water from the Yamuna River during the foundation laying ceremony of Capital Amaravati, symbolising national unity and support.
Explaining the rationale behind Amaravati’s selection as the State capital, Naidu said it was based on the recommendations of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee, which identified the Guntur-Vijayawada region as a suitable location. He pointed out that the region’s central location, cultural relevance, availability of water resources, and fertile land made it an ideal choice for establishing a capital city.
“Farmers voluntarily contributed around 34,000 acres without seeking monetary compensation, demonstrating remarkable trust in the government’s vision. This is a unique example of public participation in a large-scale development initiative,’’ he said.
Andhra Pradesh aims to become a $2.4 trillion economy by 2047 with Amaravati acting as a key growth engine as it is being developed as a self-sustainable and monetisation-driven project, Naidu said.
The Chief Minister alleged that the previous government had failed to make progress on key commitments related to the State bifurcation. After coming to power, the NDA government has secured funds for major projects such as Polavaram, Amaravati, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Railway Zone and Rayalaseema Horticulture Hub, he said.
‘People rejected conspiracies’
Naidu said while he moved forward with planned development, the opposition had indulged in conspiracies to stall the progress of Amaravati. False narratives were spread branding the capital region as a desert, flood-prone and unfit for construction, and even letters were written to the World Bank to halt aid. Criticising the three-capital proposal of the previous YSRCP regime, he said it only created confusion and division.
The opposition had earlier supported the proposal, including proposing a large land base for the capital. However, their subsequent change in stand led to confusion and policy uncertainty, impacting the progress of the capital project, he explained.
He further alleged that the previous regime halted ongoing works and disrupted progress. Large-scale construction activities came to a standstill despite significant investments and workforce deployment, affecting both development momentum and employment opportunities, he deplored.
“People delivered a clear mandate in the 2024 elections, reaffirming Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The verdict was a reflection of public confidence in the original vision for the State’s growth and development,’’ he said.
‘Telangana is my brainchild’
Naidu clarified that he never opposed to Telangana, describing it as his “brainchild” and recalling that the Telugu Desam Party was founded there. The TDP supremo said he had earlier made it clear that he would take oath as Chief Minister only after the merger of seven mandals in Andhra Pradesh to facilitate the execution of the Polavaram Irrigation Project post bifurcation. The Centre also felt that inclusion of these mandals was essential for the execution of the Polavaram project. With his experience and support from the Centre, the merger of seven mandals was successfully completed, Naidu added.