Andhra Pradesh's Three-Capitals Plan Faces Uncertainty as Visakhapatnam Emerges as New Capital

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced on January 31, 2023, that Visakhapatnam will serve as the state's new capital, marking a significant shift in the state's administrative framework. This decision comes after years of debate and legal challenges surrounding the proposed three-capitals plan, which aimed to decentralize governance by designating Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

The announcement was made during the International Diplomatic Alliance Meet in New Delhi, where Reddy invited investors to the Global Investors Summit scheduled for March 3-4 in Visakhapatnam. He also revealed plans to relocate his office to the city, signaling a strong commitment to the new capital. This move is seen as a reaffirmation of Reddy's vision for decentralized development across Andhra Pradesh.

However, the three-capitals plan has faced significant opposition, particularly from farmers in Amaravati who had surrendered their land for the development of the capital city under the previous government. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had previously directed the state government to continue developing Amaravati as per the original plan, but the Supreme Court stayed this order in November 2022, citing the lack of expertise in urban planning by the judiciary.

The state government has allocated nearly Rs 100 crore to beautify Visakhapatnam ahead of the Global Investors Summit and the G20 Summit Working Group Committee meeting in March. Meanwhile, the fate of Amaravati remains uncertain, with the Supreme Court yet to issue a final ruling on the matter. The ongoing legal battle and the government's push for Visakhapatnam as the capital highlight the complexities of balancing development aspirations with legal and political challenges.