Amaravati, victory of five crore people: CM Babu

The previous regime of attempting to derail Amaravati through destructive politics and said its actions had harmed the state’s long-term prospects.

metro india news  I hyderabad

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday described the grant of statutory status to Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital by both Houses of Parliament as a historic milestone and a victory of five crore people. Addressing a press conference at Undavalli, he traced the journey of the capital issue from the 2014 bifurcation to the present, urging citizens to remain vigilant to ensure such uncertainty does not recur.

Naidu clarified that Amaravati would be recognised as the permanent capital with effect from June 2, 2024, and would formally come into force after Presidential assent. He emphasised that the parliamentary approval reflects a broad national consensus, with most political parties supporting the legislation. “This is the respect earned by a people’s capital,” he said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, parliamentary leaders, and all parties that backed the Bill.

However, the Chief Minister launched a sharp attack on the YSR Congress Party, alleging that it stood isolated while the rest of the country supported Andhra Pradesh’s interests. He accused the previous regime of attempting to derail Amaravati through destructive politics and said its actions had harmed the state’s long-term prospects.

Recalling the immediate post-bifurcation phase in 2014, Naidu said the state was left without a capital and with severe financial constraints. He noted that Amaravati was chosen as a Greenfield capital between Vijayawada and Guntur after expert recommendations and public consultations. He highlighted the land pooling model, under which nearly 29,000 farmers voluntarily contributed over 34,000 acres, calling it a globally recognised initiative.

Criticising the previous five years, Naidu alleged that Amaravati’s development was stalled, infrastructure projects were halted, and investor confidence was shaken. He said farmers who protested faced hardships, while key development partnerships were disrupted.

With the return of the current government, he said Amaravati’s development has regained momentum under a double-engine framework with central support. The Chief Minister outlined plans to develop nine thematic cities within Amaravati, including governance, finance, knowledge, justice, and health hubs, positioning it as a self-sustaining economic centre.

He added that balanced regional development would continue across Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, with a long-term vision of transforming Andhra Pradesh into a “Swarna Andhra” by 2047.