UK Expertise to Aid Amaravati, AP Urban Development
The partnership seeks to use UK expertise and technology to develop Amaravati as a world-class smart, sustainable and liveable capital
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday signed a government-to-government MoU with the United Kingdom to strengthen cooperation in urban development, infrastructure and advanced technology, with Amaravati having a major focus.
The agreement was inked at the Secretariat in Amaravati by urban development principal secretary Suresh Kumar and deputy director for government partnerships to UK’s department for business and trade, Chaz Walia.
Urban development minister P Narayana and officials from both sides attended the event.
The partnership seeks to use UK expertise and technology to develop Amaravati as a world-class smart, sustainable and liveable capital. Cooperation will also cover the state’s 123 municipalities and municipal corporations, focusing on roads, drainage, drinking water, solid and liquid waste management and other basic infrastructure.
Narayana said infrastructure works worth nearly `40,000 crore were being taken up across the state with support from the central and state governments. Adoption of UK technologies and best practices, he said, would help complete these projects to higher global standards.
The partnership will focus on four key areas — infrastructure planning, sustainable urban development, technology transfer and innovation, and integrated urban mobility. The two sides will work on project prioritisation, feasibility assessments, investment-oriented business cases, project design, programme management and implementation.
For Amaravati’s next phase, the state will explore UK expertise in urban planning, sustainable infrastructure, transport and advanced construction technologies, including possibilities in riverfront development, urban regeneration and mixed-use projects.
Technology cooperation will cover Intelligent Transport Systems, Building Information Modelling, digital twins, advanced construction methods and research and development. Integrated mobility initiatives will include metro rail, bus systems, airport connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure and data-driven transport planning to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and pollution.
The MoU may also facilitate innovative financing and investment mobilisation, including potential UK Export Finance support for eligible projects, subject to financial, due-diligence and UK-content requirements.
Minister Narayana said the agreement was being pursued on the basis of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu’s vision to make Amaravati one of the world’s top five cities. Global technology and best practices would be adopted “despite financial constraints.”
He cited the role of London-based Foster + Partners in designing Amaravati’s assembly, high court and secretariat complexes as an example of existing UK collaboration.
Capital region development authority commissioner Vijaya Ramaraju as also senior municipal administration and AP Metro Rail Corporation officials were present.
The UK delegation included South Asia trade counsellor Mark Birrell, deputy high commissioner Gareth Wyn Owen and senior infrastructure and government partnership officials.
