India’s newest state, Andhra Pradesh, was carved out of the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It took effect on 2 June, 2014 following the passing of the bifurcation bill by the Andhra Pradesh assembly which received the assent of the President of India Pranab Mukherjee on 1 June 2014 and was notified in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on 12 June 2014. The new capital city, Amaravati will be built in Guntur district, northwest of Hyderabad with an estimated cost over US$10 billion and is to be completed by 2019.
Introduction
Named after a venerated river, Amaravati was officially unveiled as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on 22 October, 2015. The new capital will be constructed to the southeast of Vijayawada and Guntur and has been touted as one of the best cities in India, with spacious roads laid out on a grid. This will bring development to southern Telangana and rural areas surrounding Vijayawada.
Section 1 – Urban Planning
New capital cities always come with an immense, yet exciting task at hand: urban planning. With their citizens, tourists and natural resources all in need of careful consideration, it is imperative that the planners stay mindful. Being one of the largest and richest metropolitan areas in the country, a great deal rests on Amaravati’s balance sheet. The Uttarandhra region includes Nagpur and four other districts—Hindupur, Anantapur, Kadapa and Kurnool.
Section 2 – Land Pooling Scheme
Land pooling is a potential solution for a new capital. This process has been used in other developing countries as an alternative to land acquisition and offers more flexibility on the location and design of the new city. Land can be pooled by individual farmers, village groups, government agencies or by eminent domain. However, there are many stakeholders in any given decision making process.
Section 3 – Core Group Citizens
Citizens have diverse needs, interests and cultures. They all deserve to be actively engaged in building their communities. People in all income brackets need access to basic services such as housing, employment opportunities, good schools and healthcare close to home. Core Group Citizens are crucial for the success of a city because they will be driving the economy forward for many years to come.
Section 4 – Economic Growth in Region
An analysis by the World Bank showed that within 10 years from 1991 to 2001, per capita income in the region grew at 2.3 percent per year, as compared to just 1.5 percent in India as a whole. Poverty reduction has been helped by increased employment and increased participation of women in the workforce, with female labour force participation rates exceeding those for males.
The largest industries are cotton textiles, sugar cane refining, pharmaceuticals, and steel manufacturing.
Amaravati to Guntur
A variety of factors were considered in the selection process, including proximity to other major cities and a short distance from the coast. The city will be built based on sustainable development principles. The Greater Amaravati Development Corporation is tasked with master planning and creating infrastructure for the new capital. Car Travels in Guntur, Railway Stations in Guntur, Nearest Airport is Gannavaram.
