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Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and the Reorganisation Act 2014 · Chapter 3

Capital: Hyderabad and Amaravati

What to remember

  • Hyderabad was the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from 2 June 2014 for a period not exceeding ten years. After that period it is the capital of Telangana alone.
  • A Central expert committee under K. C. Sivaramakrishnan studied options for the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The state then chose a site between Vijayawada and Guntur on the Krishna river and named the capital Amaravati.
  • Amaravati was planned as a greenfield capital city on land pooled voluntarily from farmers, under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA).

1. Hyderabad as the joint capital

Hyderabad had been the capital of Andhra Pradesh since 1956. When Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014, the Act kept Hyderabad as the common capital for both states.

Key points:

  • The limit is "a period not exceeding ten years" from the appointed day (Section 5 of the Act). Therefore the latest end date was 2 June 2024. The state could move earlier.
  • The Governor has special responsibility for the safety and security of all residents in the common capital (Section 8). He is helped by two advisors.
  • Both states used government buildings in the city in agreed ways. Disputes arose over buildings, offices and the sharing of institutions.
  • The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area was treated as the common-capital area.
  • Over time, the Andhra Pradesh government moved its offices to the new capital area. The Andhra Pradesh High Court, separate from the Hyderabad court, began working at Amaravati from 1 January 2019.
  • After the period ended, Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana alone.

Why a common capital? A capital is expensive and takes years to build. The Act gave Andhra Pradesh time to build a new capital, while Hyderabad remained the main economic and administrative centre.

2. The expert committee: Sivaramakrishnan Committee

Section 6 of the Act asked the Centre to appoint an expert committee to study alternatives for the capital of the successor state.

  • The committee was formed in March 2014 under K. C. Sivaramakrishnan, a former civil servant who had worked on urban affairs.
  • It visited many places in the state and consulted people.
  • Its report was submitted in 2014. It advised against putting the whole capital in one place and did not recommend a large "mega capital" built on fertile farmland. It said that a capital need not be a single big city and that development should be spread. It examined the Vijayawada-Guntur region as one option, along with other areas.
  • The report also warned about environment, water and land issues, such as the use of multi-crop agricultural land and flood risk.
  • The state government decided on its own site selection. The report is advisory, not binding.

3. Choosing Amaravati

  • In 2014, the state government of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu decided to build the capital in the Vijayawada-Guntur region on the south bank of the Krishna river, in what is called the capital region.
  • The new capital was named Amaravati. The name recalls the ancient Buddhist centre of Amaravati (near the ancient Dhanyakataka), which was a major centre in the Satavahana period.
  • The government passed the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014 to plan and develop the capital region. APCRDA is the planning and development authority.
  • The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 October 2015 (Vijayadashami) at Uddandarayunipalem.
  • A master plan was prepared with the help of an international consultant, and plans spoke of a "people's capital" with a green, water-based and heritage-themed design.

4. Land pooling

The state wanted a large capital area without forcible acquisition.

  • Under the Land Pooling Scheme, farmers voluntarily gave land to APCRDA. In return they receive developed plots (residential and commercial) in the new capital, along with an annual payment for a set period for those who gave up their farm income, and other benefits for landless families such as a monthly pension.
  • The land is planned, with roads and utilities laid, and part of the area is sold or used for public purposes. The returns from the sale of land are meant to help pay for the capital.
  • Supporters praised land pooling as a way to avoid using public money for land purchase and as fairer than compulsory acquisition. Critics raised concerns about fertile land loss, about the rights of tenants and landless labourers, and about the risk in a project dependent on future land value.
  • This model differs from the Land Acquisition Act approach where the government takes land in exchange for compensation.
MethodKey idea
Land acquisitionGovernment takes land and pays compensation
Land poolingOwners give land, receive developed plots back
Greenfield capitalNew city built on mostly open or agricultural land
Brownfield developmentExpanding or rebuilding an existing city

5. Capital region and planning

  • The capital region covers parts of the Krishna and Guntur belt, around Vijayawada, Guntur, Mangalagiri and Tenali. The region is larger than the capital city, which is a core area planned inside it.
  • The plan had zones for government, justice, finance, knowledge, health, sports, media, tourism and electronics. The aim was to use the capital as an engine for the region.
  • Core infrastructure involved a seed access road, trunk roads, power, water and drainage, and a connected public transport plan.
  • Government offices were shifted in stages. A temporary secretariat and the Assembly were built as interim facilities in the area.
  • Judicial and civic structures were set up in the region, such as the High Court.
  • The new capital was meant to be planned with respect for the Krishna river, flood control, and the Kondaveeti Vagu stream.

6. Later developments (check the latest official release)

  • After the change of government in 2019, the state considered the idea of three capitals (executive, legislative and judicial in different places). A law on decentralisation of development was passed, but it was withdrawn in 2021 amid court cases and protests.
  • In its orders, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh asked for work in the capital region to be completed within a set time.
  • After 2024, the state government revived the Amaravati plan and sought central and external support for it. Details change frequently, so students should rely on the latest official release for current status.

7. Why the capital matters for exams

  • It links to Section 5, 6 and 8 of the Act, and to the idea of "residuary" Andhra Pradesh.
  • It links to land policy, urban planning, and debates on fiscal burden, federalism and decentralisation.
  • It is often asked as a timeline: Act (2014), committee (2014), land pooling (2014-15), foundation stone (2015), High Court at Amaravati (2019), three-capital plan (2020), withdrawal (2021).

Exam traps

  • Hyderabad is the common capital for up to ten years, not exactly ten years.
  • Section 5 provides the common capital; Section 6 provides the expert committee; Section 8 gives the Governor special powers.
  • The Sivaramakrishnan Committee was an expert committee of the Centre; the Srikrishna Committee (2010) dealt with the Telangana question.
  • Amaravati is on the south bank of the Krishna; it is not on the Godavari.
  • Amaravati is a greenfield city; Hyderabad is an old established city.
  • APCRDA is a planning authority; it is not the same as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
  • Land pooling gives owners developed plots; it is not simple compulsory acquisition.
  • The foundation stone was laid on Vijayadashami 2015 by the Prime Minister.

One-liners

  • 1. Hyderabad was common capital for a period not exceeding ten years.
  • 2. Section 6 provided for an expert committee on the new capital.
  • 3. K. C. Sivaramakrishnan headed the capital expert committee.
  • 4. The new capital is named Amaravati.
  • 5. Amaravati is on the Krishna river between Vijayawada and Guntur.
  • 6. APCRDA is the Capital Region Development Authority.
  • 7. The foundation stone was laid on 22 October 2015.
  • 8. The land pooling scheme returns developed plots to farmers.
  • 9. Amaravati is a greenfield capital.
  • 10. The Governor has special responsibility for security in the common capital.
  • 11. The Andhra Pradesh High Court began working in Amaravati on 1 January 2019.
  • 12. The three-capitals law was withdrawn in 2021.

Practice questions

  1. Which city became the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014?

    1. Warangal
    2. Vijayawada
    3. Visakhapatnam
    4. Hyderabad
    Answer

    D. Hyderabad

    The Act kept Hyderabad as the common capital.

  2. The maximum period for the common capital was:

    1. Five years
    2. Ten years
    3. Twenty years
    4. Fifteen years
    Answer

    B. Ten years

    The limit started from 2 June 2014.

  3. The latest date on which the common capital arrangement could last was:

    1. 2 June 2019
    2. 1 November 2026
    3. 2 June 2024
    4. 1 March 2024
    Answer

    C. 2 June 2024

    Ten years from the appointed day.

  4. The new capital of Andhra Pradesh was named:

    1. Amaravati
    2. Vijayanagara
    3. Rajahmundry
    4. Kalinga
    Answer

    A. Amaravati

    It lies near the Krishna river.

  5. Amaravati is located on the bank of the river:

    1. Tungabhadra
    2. Godavari
    3. Penna
    4. Krishna
    Answer

    D. Krishna

    It is between Vijayawada and Guntur.

  6. The authority created to plan and develop the capital region is:

    1. NITI Aayog
    2. APCRDA
    3. Finance Commission
    4. GHMC
    Answer

    B. APCRDA

    It is the Capital Region Development Authority.

  7. The expert committee on the capital of Andhra Pradesh was headed by:

    1. M. Chenna Reddy
    2. Fazl Ali
    3. K. C. Sivaramakrishnan
    4. B. N. Srikrishna
    Answer

    C. K. C. Sivaramakrishnan

    It was set up under Section 6.

  8. Which Section provided for the expert committee on the new capital?

    1. Section 8
    2. Section 5
    3. Section 6
    4. Section 94
    Answer

    C. Section 6

    The Centre was to set it up.

  9. The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid on:

    1. 22 October 2015
    2. 1 March 2014
    3. 2 June 2014
    4. 2 June 2024
    Answer

    A. 22 October 2015

    It was laid on Vijayadashami.

  10. The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid by:

    1. Chief Justice of India
    2. Governor of Andhra Pradesh
    3. President of India
    4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
    Answer

    D. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    The ceremony was at Uddandarayunipalem.

  11. The foundation ceremony of Amaravati took place at:

    1. Srikakulam
    2. Uddandarayunipalem
    3. Tirumala
    4. Kurnool
    Answer

    B. Uddandarayunipalem

    It is in the capital region.

  12. Under the land pooling scheme, farmers who give land receive:

    1. Only cash at market rates
    2. Nothing
    3. Developed plots in the new capital
    4. Land in Telangana
    Answer

    C. Developed plots in the new capital

    They also receive annual payments for a set period.

  13. A capital city built on mostly open or agricultural land is called:

    1. A cantonment
    2. A brownfield city
    3. A satellite town
    4. A greenfield city
    Answer

    D. A greenfield city

    Amaravati was planned as a greenfield city.

  14. The name Amaravati recalls:

    1. An ancient Buddhist centre of the Satavahana period
    2. A Chola port
    3. A Mughal fort
    4. A British cantonment
    Answer

    A. An ancient Buddhist centre of the Satavahana period

    The ancient site is on the Krishna.

  15. The Andhra Pradesh High Court began functioning at Amaravati on:

    1. 2 June 2014
    2. 1 January 2019
    3. 22 October 2015
    4. 1 March 2014
    Answer

    B. 1 January 2019

    Before that the two states shared a court at Hyderabad.

  16. The 'three capitals' idea proposed:

    1. One capital in each coastal district
    2. A capital only at Hyderabad
    3. Moving the capital to Delhi
    4. Executive, legislative and judicial capitals at different places
    Answer

    D. Executive, legislative and judicial capitals at different places

    It was a plan of decentralisation.

  17. The three-capitals law was:

    1. Never introduced
    2. Passed by Parliament in 2014
    3. Withdrawn in 2021
    4. Upheld by the Supreme Court in 2024
    Answer

    C. Withdrawn in 2021

    It faced court cases and protests.

  18. In the common capital, the Governor has special responsibility for:

    1. Safety and security of residents
    2. Choosing the Chief Ministers
    3. Selecting judges
    4. Collecting taxes
    Answer

    A. Safety and security of residents

    This is in Section 8.

  19. The Governor in the common capital is helped by how many advisors?

    1. Five
    2. Two
    3. Ten
    4. One
    Answer

    B. Two

    They are appointed by the Centre.

  20. The Sivaramakrishnan Committee advised that the capital should:

    1. Avoid a mega city on fertile farmland and spread development
    2. Be built only on multi-crop land
    3. Stay at Hyderabad for ever
    4. Be placed on a river island only
    Answer

    A. Avoid a mega city on fertile farmland and spread development

    It warned about land, water and environment.

  21. Why did the Act provide for a common capital?

    1. To make Hyderabad a union territory
    2. To give Andhra Pradesh time to build a new capital
    3. To merge both states again
    4. To shift Telangana's capital
    Answer

    B. To give Andhra Pradesh time to build a new capital

    A capital takes many years to build.

  22. The capital region compared with the capital city is:

    1. Smaller than the city
    2. Located in Telangana
    3. Larger, with the city planned as a core area inside it
    4. Exactly the same area
    Answer

    C. Larger, with the city planned as a core area inside it

    The region covers parts of the Krishna and Guntur belt.

  23. The Srikrishna Committee (2010) differed from the Sivaramakrishnan Committee (2014) because it dealt with:

    1. Division of rivers
    2. The capital of Andhra Pradesh
    3. Division of employees
    4. The Telangana question
    Answer

    D. The Telangana question

    Do not confuse the two committees.

  24. The main difference between land pooling and land acquisition is that in pooling:

    1. The government takes land and pays compensation
    2. Land is taken without payment
    3. Owners give land voluntarily and receive developed plots
    4. Only tenants give land
    Answer

    C. Owners give land voluntarily and receive developed plots

    It is an exchange rather than a purchase.

  25. A criticism of the land pooling model is:

    1. Loss of fertile land and weak protection for tenants and landless labour
    2. It gives too much cash to farmers
    3. It needs no planning
    4. It cannot be used for roads
    Answer

    A. Loss of fertile land and weak protection for tenants and landless labour

    Critics also pointed to the risk of depending on future land values.

  26. Amaravati is located between which two cities?

    1. Nellore and Tirupati
    2. Vijayawada and Guntur
    3. Kurnool and Anantapur
    4. Visakhapatnam and Kakinada
    Answer

    B. Vijayawada and Guntur

    It is on the south bank of the Krishna.

  27. Who was the Chief Minister of residuary Andhra Pradesh when Amaravati was selected as the capital?

    1. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
    2. T. Prakasam
    3. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy
    4. N. Chandrababu Naidu
    Answer

    D. N. Chandrababu Naidu

    The decision was taken in 2014.

  28. Dhanyakataka, an ancient name associated with the area, is linked to:

    1. Amaravati
    2. Warangal
    3. Nellore
    4. Hyderabad
    Answer

    A. Amaravati

    It was a major centre in the Satavahana period.

  29. After the common-capital period ends, Hyderabad is the capital of:

    1. Andhra Pradesh alone
    2. Both states
    3. The Centre
    4. Telangana alone
    Answer

    D. Telangana alone

    Andhra Pradesh moves to its own capital.

  30. Which area was treated as the common-capital area for the purposes of the Act?

    1. The capital region of Amaravati
    2. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area
    3. The whole of Telangana
    4. The Krishna delta
    Answer

    B. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area

    The Governor's responsibility applies there.

  31. Consider the statements: 1. Hyderabad is common capital for a period not exceeding ten years. 2. Amaravati lies on the Godavari. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Amaravati is on the Krishna. Only statement 1 is correct.

  32. Consider the statements: 1. The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid on 22 October 2015. 2. APCRDA is the planning and development authority for the capital region. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  33. Consider the statements: 1. The advice of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee was binding on the state. 2. The committee's report was advisory. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    The state took its own decision. Only statement 2 is correct.

  34. Consider the statements: 1. Land pooling is compulsory acquisition with cash compensation. 2. Amaravati is a brownfield city built over an old city. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    Pooling is voluntary and Amaravati is greenfield. Both are wrong.

  35. Consider the statements: 1. Section 6 of the Act provided for an expert committee. 2. Section 5 gave the Governor special responsibility for security. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Section 8 gives the Governor's responsibility. Only statement 1 is correct.

  36. Consider the statements: 1. The Andhra Pradesh High Court began working at Amaravati in 2019. 2. The three-capitals law was withdrawn in 2021. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  37. Consider the statements: 1. After ten years Hyderabad is no longer the capital of Andhra Pradesh. 2. Hyderabad is then the capital of Telangana alone. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both statements are correct.

  38. Consider the statements: 1. The capital region is larger than the capital city. 2. The capital region and the capital city cover exactly the same area. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    Only statement 1 is correct.

  39. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?

    1. Section 8 - Common capital
    2. Section 6 - Expert committee on the capital
    3. Section 5 - Governor's special responsibility
    4. Section 6 - Division of rivers
    Answer

    B. Section 6 - Expert committee on the capital

    Section 5 is the common capital and Section 8 is the Governor's role.

  40. Which benefit has been described for landless families in the land pooling scheme?

    1. Ownership of the pooled land
    2. Free plots in Hyderabad
    3. Government jobs for all
    4. A monthly pension for a set period
    Answer

    D. A monthly pension for a set period

    It was meant to protect those without land.

  41. Why is the advice of an expert committee not binding on the state?

    1. It is a Cabinet order
    2. It is advisory, and the government takes its own decision
    3. The High Court must approve it
    4. The Constitution forbids committees
    Answer

    B. It is advisory, and the government takes its own decision

    The committee only studies and recommends.

  42. The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid on the festival of:

    1. Ugadi
    2. Deepavali
    3. Sankranti
    4. Vijayadashami
    Answer

    D. Vijayadashami

    The date was 22 October 2015.

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