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Amaravati

Coordinates: 16°32′28″N 80°30′54″E / 16.541°N 80.515°E / 16.541; 80.515
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kumarraunak (talk | contribs) at 13:07, 21 August 2019 (→History: ABout change of proposed capital). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Amaravati (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Amravati, Maharashtra or Amarawati.
Amaravati
City
3D model of Amaravati as seen from Mangalagiri
3D model of Amaravati as seen from Mangalagiri
Amaravati is located in Andhra Pradesh
Amaravati
Amaravati
Amaravati is located in India
Amaravati
Amaravati
Amaravati is located in Asia
Amaravati
Amaravati
Coordinates: 16°32′28″N 80°30′54″E / 16.541°N 80.515°E / 16.541; 80.515
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictGuntur
Government
 • TypePlanning agencies
 • BodyAmaravati Development Corporation Limited, APCRDA
Area
[1]
 • City
217.23 km2 (83.87 sq mi)
 • Metro
[2]
8,352.69 km2 (3,224.99 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • City
103,000
 • Metro
[4]
5,800,000
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Pincode(s)
520 XXX, 521 XXX, 522 XXX
Vehicle registrationAP-7, AP- 39
Official languagesTelugu
WebsiteAmaravati official website

Amaravati is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.[5] The planned city is located on the southern banks of the Krishna river in Guntur district, within the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region.[6] It is being built on a 217 sq km riverfront designed to have 51% of green spaces and 10% of water bodies.[1][7] The word "Amaravati" derives from the historical Amaravathi village, the ancient capital of the Satavahana dynasty.[8] The foundation stone was laid on 22 October 2015, at Uddandarayunipalem area by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.[9] The metropolitan area of Guntur and Vijayawada are the major conurbations of Amaravati.[10]

Amaravati is being constructed to serve as the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh, after Telangana was split off as a separate state in 2014. The former capital city, Hyderabad, is now located inside Telangana. A new capital city had to be either assigned or constructed on the remaining territory of Andhra Pradesh and Amaravati was finally chosen as that.

As of October 2016, the majority of departments and officials of the Andhra Pradesh State Government are now functioning from interim facilities located in the Velagapudi area of Amaravati, with only a skeleton staff remaining behind in Hyderabad.[11] Since April 2016, the office of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh started its operations from Velagapudi. The Andhra Pradesh Legislature remained in Hyderabad until March 2017, when it relocated to newly constructed interim legislative buildings in Velagapudi.[12]

Etymology

The word Amaravati translates as 'the place for immortals'. It was formerly called Dhanyakataka ('where Shakyamuni Buddha taught the Heart Essence form of the Kalachakra Dharma to the Shambala kings').[8][13][failed verification]

History

The Dhyana Buddha statue, dedicated in 2015

The present capital area has its own historical significance of having recorded its first ever legislation 2,200 years ago.[14] The present-day capital region includes the ancient Amaravati. The area has been ruled by the Mauryas, Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Vishnukundina, Pallavas, Telugu Cholas, Kakatiyas, Delhi Sultanate, Musunuri Nayaks, Bahmani Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire, Sultanate of Golconda and Mughal Empire successively before the founding of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1724. It was ceded to France in 1750 but was captured by the British in 1759. Guntur returned to the Nizamate in 1768 but was ceded to Britain again in 1788. It was briefly occupied by Hyder Ali. It was then ruled by Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu. It was part of Madras Presidency during the British colonial period.

As per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014), Hyderabad became the capital of the then newly formed state of Telangana, post bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. However, Hyderabad would remain as the joint capital of both states for a period of time not exceeding ten years. Hence, Amaravati is being built to serve as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.[15]

The foundation for the city was laid at Uddandarayunipalem on 22 October 2015. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi; the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu; the Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao; the Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan; the Japanese minister for economy trade and industry, Yosuke Takagi; and the Singaporean Minister for Trade and Industry, S. Iswaran, laid the foundation for the city.[9][16]

There are already rumors that Andhra Pradesh may change its capital from Amaravati to another place because its not safe seeing recent floods.[17]

Vision

Chandrababu Naidu stated that his vision was to see Amaravati as the happiest city in the world.[18] Among the innovative features on the drawing board are navigation canals[19] around the city and connecting an island in the river Krishna and moreover government has envisaged an investment needed[20] of USD 2–4 billion for the development of the greenfield capital city[21]

Amaravati, being built on a 217 sq km open field in Guntur district, is being designed to have 51% of green spaces and 10% of water bodies, with a plan to house some of the most iconic buildings there. The city is being modelled on Singapore, with the masterplan being prepared by two Singapore government-appointed consultants. Other international consultants and architects will then be roped in to give it an international flavour.[22]

Geography

The city is being built in Guntur district, on the banks of the Krishna River. The city will be 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-west of Vijayawada and 32 kilometres (20 mi) north of Guntur.[23]

Government and politics

Secretariat complex during Independence Day, 2017
Map showing Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh Capital Region, spread across Guntur and Krishna districts

Administration

Amaravati is an Urban Notified Area and its urban development and planning activities are undertaken by the Amaravati Development Corporation Limited[24] and Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA).[25] The Andhra Pradesh Secretariat at Velagapudi is the administrative block for the employees of the state government.[26]

High court of Andhra Pradesh under construction (January 2018)

The APCRDA has its jurisdiction over the city and is the conurbation covering Andhra Pradesh Capital Region.[27] The capital city is spread over an area of 217.23 km2 (83.87 sq mi),[28] and will comprise villages (including some hamlets) from three mandals viz., Mangalagiri, Thullur and Tadepalle.[29] The seed capital is spread over an area of 16.94 km2 (6.54 sq mi).[30]

The table below lists the identified villages and hamlets under their respective mandals, which became a part of the capital city.[1]

Mandal Settlements
Thullur mandal Abbarajupalem, Ainavolu, Ananthavaram, Borupalem, Dondapadu, Kondarajupalem (de-populated), Lingayapalem (including Modugulankapalem hamlets), Malkapuram, Mandadam (Tallayapalem hamlets), Nekkallu, Nelapadu, Pitchikalapalem, Rayapudi, Sakhamuru, Thulluru, Uddandarayunipalem, Velagapudi, Venkatapalem
Mangalagiri mandal Krishnayapalem, Nidamarru, Kuragallu (including Nerukonda hamlets), Nowlur (including Yerrabalem & Bethapudi hamlets)
Tadepalle mandal Penumaka, Tadepalle (M) (Part) (Nulakapet, Dolas Nagar etc.), Undavalli

Notes:

  • M – municipality
  • The names in brackets are the hamlet villages of the respective settlement.

Language and religion

The residents of Amaravati are Telugu-speaking people. Telugu is the official language of the city. Hindus form a very large majority.[31] There are also Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist communities. There is the iconic Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple, and the Amaravati Mahachaitya in the Amaravati heritage complex.[32][33][34]

Economy and infrastructure

The State government has initiated the Singapore-based Ascendas-Singbridge and Sembcorp Development consortium for the capital city construction. The new capital city’s infrastructure will be developed in 7–8 years in phases, at an estimated cost of ₹33,000 crore. ₹7,500 crore from Hudco, $500 million from the World Bank and ₹2,500 crore from the Indian Government, of which ₹1,500 crore has been granted.[35]

Nine themed cities consisting of Finance, Justice, Health, Sports, Media, and Electronics; including Government buildings designed by Norman Foster, Hafeez Contractor, Reliance Group, and NRDC-India will be built within the city.[36][37][38] Pi Data Centre, 4th largest of its kind in Asia, with an investment of ₹600 crore (US$70 million) and Pi Care Services, a healthcare BPO were inaugurated at Mangalagiri IT park.[39][40] HCL Technologies, an IT firm would set up one of its centres in Amaravati.[41][42]

BRS Medicity with an investment of $1.8 billion to come up in Amaravati.[43][44] Mangalagiri Sarees and Fabrics produced in Mangalagiri mandal,[45] a part of the state capital, were registered as one of the geographical indications from Andhra Pradesh.[46]

Education

SRM University, Andhra Pradesh and Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT-AP) had already begun the classes in their respective campus in Amaravati.[47][48] Amrita University, Amity University and Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH) in collaboration with the King’s College, London are among the others to set up their campus.[49][50][51][52] Amaravati's first management institute, Xavier School of Management (XLRI) was under construction near Ainavolu.[53]

Transport

A bridge on seed access road

The buses operated by APSRTC from Pandit Nehru Bus Station and NTR bus station, connects the city with Vijayawada and Guntur respectively.[54][55] Two new depots, North and South of APSRTC are proposed to be constructed in the city.[56] Auto rickshaws also operate for shorter distances in the capital city area.[57]

Roadways

The Amaravati–Anantapur Expressway, supported by Kurnool and Kadapa Feeder Roads is an ongoing greenfield expressway project, which would provide faster road access from the districts of Anantapur, Guntur, Kadapa, Kurnool and Prakasam to Amaravati.[58][59] The Amaravati seed capital road is an arterial road under construction to access the core capital area from National Highway 16.[60] The Vijayawada-Amaravati road connects the city with Vijayawada.[61]

Railway

A proposed Amaravati highspeed circular railway line would connect the city with the nearby cities of Vijayawada, Guntur and Tenali,[62] extending up to a length of 105 km (65 mi) with an estimated cost of ₹10,000 crore (US$1.2 billion).[63]

Air

Vijayawada Airport

The Vijayawada International Airport at Gannavaram serves the capital region by providing air connectivity to destinations across the country and to Singapore.[citation needed]

Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in the region. ACA International Cricket Stadium (or Andhra Cricket Association International Cricket Stadium) is under construction at Nowlur, Mangalagiri mandal, part of the state capital.[64][65]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Declaration of A.P. Capital City Area–Revised orders" (PDF). Andhra Nation. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  2. ^ Subba Rao, GVR (23 September 2015). "Capital region expands as CRDA redraws boundaries". The Hindu. Vijayawada. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  3. ^ "CRDA eyes CSR funds to push job potential in capital city". Times of India. Guntur. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Amaravati to be divided into eight urban plan areas". The Hindu. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  5. ^ Akbar, Syed (8 August 2016). "Amaravati as official capital will boost Andhra Pradesh's image – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Naming of the Residuary Andhra Pradesh State Capital as "AMARAVATI"" (PDF). Andhra Nation. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Amaravati: A capital idea, but how feasible?".
  8. ^ a b "After 18 centuries, Amaravati set to become a 'capital' again". The Times of India. 22 October 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Thousands descend on Andhra village Uddandarayunipalem to watch history in making", Economic Times, 22 October 2015
  10. ^ "Explained: Why Amaravati has been chosen as the new Andhra Pradesh capital". The Indian Express. 21 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Secretariat starts functioning from interim government complex at Amaravati – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 3 October 2016.
  12. ^ Andhra Pradesh Holds Maiden Budget Session in New Capital Amaravati
  13. ^ Ravikumar, Aruna (13 August 2016). "A river of talent". The Hans India. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ^ "After 2,200 years, Amaravati gets back its legislation power – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ^ "The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014" (PDF). AP Reorganisation Portal. New Delhi: The Gazette of India Extraordinary. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Andhra CM scales down Amaravati foundation fete".
  17. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/ap-to-dump-capital-plan-for-amaravati/articleshow/70761628.cms
  18. ^ Sarma, Ch R. S. "Amaravati will be developed as the happiest city in the world: Andhra CM". @businessline.
  19. ^ "Civil works of administrative city to start by november 1: CM – Times of India". The Times of India.
  20. ^ Sukumar, C. R. (22 August 2018). "Andhra's bonds for Amaravati oversubscribed by 1.5 times" – via The Economic Times.
  21. ^ "Amaravati development needs $2–4 billion investment: Chandrababu Naidu". 27 August 2018 – via The Economic Times.
  22. ^ Sharma, Shantanu Nandan (21 May 2017). "How Andhra Pradesh plans to make its new capital Amaravati a world-class city" – via The Economic Times.
  23. ^ U Sudhakar Reddy (31 October 2014). "Andhra Pradesh capital to come up on riverfront in Guntur district". Deccan Chronicle. Hyderabad. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  24. ^ "ADCL :: Amaravati Development Corporation Ltd". ccdmc.co.in. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  25. ^ "New Andhra capital Amaravati to compete for Smart City tag". The New Indian Express. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  26. ^ "CM inaugurates AP's interim secretariat". The Hindu. 26 April 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  27. ^ "AP Capital Region Development Authority comes into being". The Hindu. Hyderabad. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  28. ^ "How Andhra Pradesh plans to make its new capital Amaravati a world-class city".
  29. ^ "A.P. Capital Region" (PDF). APCRDA. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 15. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  30. ^ "Economic Development Board Andhra Pradesh – Amaravati – The People's Capital". apedb.gov.in. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  32. ^ ":::- WELCOME TO GUNTUR DISTRICT OFFICIAL WEBSITE -:". Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Archaeological Museum, Amaravati – Archaeological Survey of India".
  34. ^ "Buddha – Amaravati".
  35. ^ G Naga Sridhar (13 May 2017). "Amaravati masterplan: AP to ink MoU with Singapore govt today | Business Line". Thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  36. ^ "Amaravati: How Andhra Pradesh plans to make its new capital Amaravati a world-class city – The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  37. ^ "Reliance Group: Reliance Group to set up 3 sports arenas in Amaravati | Amaravati News – Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  38. ^ "NRDC keen on opening shop in Amaravati – ANDHRA PRADESH". The Hindu. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  39. ^ "apit-gov-information-technology-communications-department-government-of-ap". apit.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  40. ^ Gagan. "Southeast Asia's One of The Largest Data Centre Is Now in Andhra Pradesh". www.communicationstoday.co.in. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  41. ^ "HCL to set up IT centres in Amaravati, Vijayawada". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  42. ^ "HCL to set up IT centres in Amaravati, Vijayawada". -Avenue Realty. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  43. ^ "CM lays foundation stone for $1.8-bn BRS Medicity – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  44. ^ "BRS Medicity Amaravati" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  45. ^ "Geographical Indication". The Hans India. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  46. ^ "Mangalagiri Cotton Saree | Textiles Committee (Ministry of Textiles, Government of India)". www.textilescommittee.gov.in. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  47. ^ "SRM University, AP – Amaravati". SRM University, AP – Amaravati. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  48. ^ "Home | VIT-AP University". www.vit.ac.in. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  49. ^ "Amity, SRM, VIT get nod to set up campuses in Andhra Pradesh | Press Room". mysrm.srmuniv.ac.in. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  50. ^ "Amity University to set up campus in Amaravati | AP State Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  51. ^ "Amrita University to Set Up Medical University at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University)". www.amrita.edu. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  52. ^ "IN THE PRESS | IUIH". www.iuih.co.uk. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  53. ^ "Stone laid for Amaravati's first management institute". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  54. ^ "Work at new Secretariat from June 27". The Hans India. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  55. ^ "Facelift to Guntur bus stand" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  56. ^ "APSRTC cuts losses by Rs. 116 crore".
  57. ^ "Thullur- Vijayawada waterway a welcome convenience". The Hans India. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  58. ^ "In a big infra boost, Centre to fund Rs 29,000 crore Andhra expressway – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  59. ^ "List of National Highways passing through A.P. State". Roads and Buildings Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  60. ^ "AP CM to take part in Iftar party". The Hans India. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  61. ^ "Four-lane road to Andhra Pradesh new capital soon". The Hindu. Guntur. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  62. ^ "DPR being prepared for high-speed train to Amaravati". Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  63. ^ Reporter, Staff. "Circular rail line for Amaravati approved". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  64. ^ "ACA's Mangalagiri stadium to be ready by 2018". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  65. ^ Bureau, Our (12 July 2013). "IVRCL bags orders worth Rs 1,098 crore". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 19 August 2017. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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