District reorganisation back on table, AP CM Chandra Babu seeks people-centric plan

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting with the Cabinet Sub-Committee on District Reorganisation at the Secretariat in Amaravati. The meeting focused on evaluating the committee’s progress and exploring measures to improve governance efficiency and public service delivery across Andhra Pradesh.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan attended the meeting along with a seven-member Cabinet Sub-Committee formed to study the existing district setup.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted in July 2025 to review the district reorganisation implemented by the previous YSRCP government in April 2022, which had increased the number of districts from 13 to 26. The present TDP–Jana Sena–BJP coalition government has repeatedly described that move as “unscientific”, claiming it caused administrative inconvenience and confusion among the public.

During the review, the Chief Minister assessed the committee’s preliminary findings and the public representations received from various regions. Officials briefed him on governance challenges arising from overlapping boundaries and resource gaps in newly formed districts. The discussions centred around possible boundary adjustments, the creation of new revenue divisions and mandals, and steps to strengthen administrative infrastructure and staff capacity.

Government sources said the committee has already conducted several rounds of consultations and will continue collecting feedback before finalising its report. The Chief Minister directed the panel to ensure that public convenience, administrative efficiency, and accessibility to government services remain the core principles of the restructuring process.

Officials clarified that no final decision has been taken yet on changing the current 26-district structure. The Cabinet Sub-Committee is expected to submit its final report by the end of 2025, after which the State Cabinet will examine the proposals and decide on the next course of action.

If approved, changes will be implemented in a phased manner starting in 2026, ensuring that administrative continuity and public services remain unaffected during the transition. The government has also indicated that its aim is not to reduce the number of districts, but to make boundaries more logical and governance more effective.

The Chief Minister stressed that the reorganisation must be based on people’s needs, accessibility, and long-term administrative convenience, ensuring equitable development across all regions of Andhra Pradesh.