Amaravati to get legal capital status; Centre set to introduce bill in budget session of Parliament

New Delhi/Amaravati: The Centre is planning to complete the process of granting legal status to Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh during the budget session of Parliament.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is working to introduce the legislation in the ongoing Budget Session, official sources said.

Bill being readied for budget session

As part of the preparatory exercise, the Home Ministry has circulated a draft Cabinet note to the Union ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs, Law, Expenditure, and NITI Aayog, seeking their views.

The Law Ministry has already conveyed its opinion, while the remaining departments have been urged to respond at the earliest. Once the Cabinet approves the proposal, the Law Ministry will draft the Bill. After a final round of Cabinet clearance, the legislation will be introduced in Parliament.

Background: Capital status pending since bifurcation

Under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, Hyderabad served as the common capital of the two Telugu states for a period of 10 years following bifurcation.

Although the Andhra Pradesh government began functioning from Amaravati in 2016, the city did not receive formal legal recognition as the state capital due to the statutory provision allowing Hyderabad to remain the joint capital during the transition period.

State pushes after the end of joint-capital period

With the 10-year joint-capital arrangement ending on June 2, 2024, the Andhra Pradesh government formally requested the Centre to notify Amaravati as the capital.

The state submitted a detailed report outlining the process adopted to select Amaravati, the administrative activities being conducted from there, and the progress made in capital development works.

Following this, the Union Home Ministry sought clarity from the state government on the effective date from which Amaravati should be declared the capital. The Andhra Pradesh government has requested that the notification take effect from June 2, 2024, the date on which the joint-capital period officially concluded.

Formal notification expected soon

With inter-ministerial consultations nearing completion, sources indicated that the Centre is keen to settle the long-pending issue through legislation in the current Parliament session, paving the way for Amaravati to receive full legal recognition as Andhra Pradesh’s capital.