Andhra Pradesh Capital row intensifies despite Parliament nod
Vijayawada: TheAndhra Pradesh capital debate has reignited sharply, with the YSRCP continuing to challenge Amaravati even after Parliament granted it statutory recognition as the State capital.
Signalling a renewed political offensive, YSRCP president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is now aggressively pushing an alternative vision-MAVIGUN (Machilipatnam–Vijayawada–Guntur)- as the state’s future development engine.
At a press conference on Friday, former minister Ambati Rambabu described Amaravati as a limited, “remote” project confined to 29 villages, while projecting MAVIGUN as a vast, already-evolved urban corridor.
He claimed the proposal has triggered widespread public debate, alleging that the TDP is resorting to trolling out of fear. “The future capital of Andhra Pradesh will be MAVIGUN. Amaravati is nowhere near completion and never will be,” Rambabu asserted, calling MAVIGUN a “development mantra” gaining traction among people.
He alleged coordinated negative campaigns by media and accused IT and HRD minister Nara Lokesh of promoting propaganda through select media houses. “If there is truth, trolling will collapse on its own,” he said.
Drawing a sharp comparison, Rambabu said MAVIGUN spans about 9,536 sq km across Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur, covering three districts with nearly 60 lakh people, while Amaravati is limited to around 217 sq km.
He argued that MAVIGUN can be developed with approximately Rs 20,000 crore by leveraging existing infrastructure, whereas Amaravati would require nearly Rs 2 lakh crore for basic facilities such as roads and drainages.
Terming Amaravati a “high-risk greenfield project,” he said MAVIGUN represents a decentralized, low-risk model built on an existing urban ecosystem with multiple revenue streams. He also questioned Amaravati’s identity, alleging it exists more as an “emotional narrative” than a functional capital.
Rambabu further accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of prioritising Amaravati for personal interests and pushing the State towards financial strain. He claimed the three MAVIGUN cities already contribute about 16 per cent to the State economy.
Responding sharply to Jagan’s proposal, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday dismissed the MAVIGUN proposal as confusing and inconsistent. “Earlier it was three capitals; now it is Plan B. I don’t even like to pronounce that name,” he said, questioning its practicality and public understanding.
He emphasised that Amaravati has received nationwide backing in Parliament and said such consensus reflects its importance not just for Andhra Pradesh but for national growth. Criticising Jagan’s stance, Naidu said it was difficult to understand how one could oppose a widely supported decision.
Warning against negative narratives, he said creating uncertainty could deter investments. “Despite conspiracies and criticism, we will move forward with determination. We will not step back under any circumstances,” he asserted.
With both sides hardening positions, the Amaravati versus MAVIGUN debate has once again emerged as a central and polarising political issue in Andhra Pradesh.
