Total number of districts in AP goes up from present 26 to 29

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is expanding its administrative boundaries with the formation of three new districts - Markapuram, Madanapalli, and Polavaram. Total number of districts will go up from the present 26 to 29. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has given his approval to the recommendations submitted by the Group of Ministers with regard to new districts, including Rampachodavaram as Polavaram's headquarters.

Five new revenue divisions are also being set up and they are Nakkapalli in Anakapalli district, Addanki in Prakasam district, Peeleru in Madanapalle, Banaganapalle in Nandyala district, Madakasira in Sathya Sai district. A decision was taken to form new Peddaharivanam mandal by dividing Adoni mandal of Kurnool district.

With regard to new Polavaram district Rampachodavaram and Chinturu revenue divisions will come under Polavaram district. Rampachodavaram, Devipatnam, Y Ramavaram, Gurtedu, Addateegala, Gangavaram, Maredumilli, and Rajavommangi mandals will come under Rampachodavaram revenue division. Whereas Yetapaka, Chinturu, Kunavaram, and Vararamachandrapuram mandals will be included in Chinturu division. The new district is formed with 3.49 lakh population.

The Markapuram district will be formed with Yerragondapalem, Markapuram, Kanigiri, and Giddaluru revenue division. Yerragondapalem, Pullalacheruvu, Tripurantakam, Dornala, Peddaraveedu, Turlupadu, Markapuram, Podili, and Konkanamitla, mandals will come under Markapuram division. Hanumantunipadu, Veligandla, Kanigiri, Pedacherlopalli, Chandrasekharapuram, Pamuru, Giddaluru, Bestavaripet, Racharla, Komarolu, Cumbum and Ardhaveedu mandals will be in Kanigiri revenue division.. The new district is formed with 11.42 lakh population.

The Madanapalli district will be formed with Madanapalli, Tamballapalle, Punganuru, Peeleru revenue constituencies. Maanapalli, Nimmanapalle, Ramasamudrm, Tamballapalle, Mulakalacheruvu, Pedamandyam, Kurabalakota, PT Samudram, Beerangi, Kothakota, Chowdepalli and Punganuru mandals will come under Madanapalli Revenue division. Similarly, Sadum, Somala, Peeleru, Guramkonda, Kalakada, Kambamvaripalle, Kalikiri, and Valmikipuram mandalas will come under Peeleru revenue division. The new district is formed with 11.05 lakh population.

Coming to changes in revenue divisions, a decision was taken to merge Nandigama mandal in Palasa division to Tekkali division. Nakkapalli revenue division will be formed with the mandals of Payakarapet and Yelamanchili constituencies. Samalkota mandal will be merged into Peddapuram Revenue division. Mandapeta, Rayavaram and Kapileswarauram mandals will be merged into Rajamahendravaram revenue division. Penugonda mandal in west Godavari districtname will be changed as Vasavi Penugonda mandal.

Addanki revenue division will be formed with Addanki and Darsi mandals by merging Addanki constituency into Prakasam district. Kandukur constituency will also be merged into Prakasam district and Marripudi and Ponnaluru mandals will be brought under Kandukuru revenue division. Kaluvai, Raipur and Sydapuram of Venkatagiri constituency in Nellore district will be brought under Gudur division of Tirupati district. Bangarupalyam of Palamaneru division will be merged into Chitoor division. Peeleru revenue division will be formed with Sadum, Somala, Peeleru, Gurramkonda, Kalakada, KBPalli, Kalikiri, Valmikipuram mandals. Chowdepalli and Punganuru mandals will be brought under Madanapalli revenue division. Ontimitta and Siddavatam will be merged into Rajampet revenue division in Kadapa district.

A new revenue division will be formed with Madakasira in Sri Sathya Sai district. Amadaguru of Kadiri division will be merged into Puttaparthi revenue division. Gorantla mandal of Puttaparthi will be merged into Penugonda division. Banaganapalle revenue division will be formed with Banaganapalle, Avuku, Kovelakunta, Sanjamala, and Kolimigundla mandals.

These changes aim to improve administrative efficiency, bring services closer to the people, and enhance regional development. However there will be no changes in nine districts including Vizianagaram, Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu and Anantapuram districts.