New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the issuance of a gazette notification by the Centre on Monday, which granted Amaravati statutory designation as the exclusive and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

This milestone was achieved after President Droupadi Murmu approved the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which had been passed by Parliament the previous week.

In a post on the social media platform X, CM Naidu stated, “I extend my thanks to the Union Government, led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, for their unwavering support for our state and guidance. I also appreciate all MPs who endorsed the Bill, our state leaders, and every citizen who stood by us. This is a significant victory for the people of Andhra Pradesh, particularly for the farmers of #Amaravati.”

He also acknowledged President Droupadi Murmu for her approval of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. “On behalf of the citizens of Andhra Pradesh, I express my heartfelt thanks to Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji for her kind approval of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, a fulfillment of our long-held ambition for our capital,” he remarked.

According to the gazette notification released by the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, will officially take effect on June 2, 2024.

This amendment modifies the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, specifically altering section 5 (2) to replace the phrase “and there shall be a new capital” with “and Amaravati shall be the new capital.”

The term “Amaravati” encompasses the capital city areas designated under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014, as explained within the Act.

On April 2, Parliament granted final approval to the Amendment Bill, officially recognizing Amaravati as the capital.

The Rajya Sabha passed the bill via a voice vote, a day after it was cleared by the Lok Sabha.

This legislation has resolved years of indecision and political instability regarding the capital issue, which emerged following the bifurcation of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 2014. It effectively eliminates any future attempts to change the capital’s designation or to revive the previous three-capital model.

A total of 35 MPs from both Houses engaged in discussions concerning the bill. With the exception of two MPs from the YSR Congress Party, all MPs were in favor.

The YSRCP opposed the bill, arguing that it did not address the concerns of farmers who surrendered their lands for the establishment of the state capital.

The groundwork for Amaravati as the state capital was initiated in 2015 under the governance of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). However, when the YSRCP assumed power in 2019, it halted all Amaravati projects and proposed the concept of three capitals.

Following the TDP-led NDA's victory in the 2024 elections, the decision was made to develop Amaravati as the sole capital. Project work was resumed last year.