Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh has entered into a long-term partnership with the United Kingdom to bring international expertise, advanced technology and sustainable development practices into the state’s urban infrastructure programme, with Rs 40,000 crore worth of projects being taken up across 123 municipalities and municipal corporations.
An MoU was signed at the Secretariat on Tuesday between the AP municipal administration and urban development department and the UK department for business and trade.
Principal secretary Suresh Kumar and Chaz Walia, deputy director of government partnerships at the UK department, signed the agreement in the presence of minister for municipal administration P Narayana and senior officials from both sides.
Amaravati will be a major focus of the partnership, with the state seeking to draw on UK expertise to develop the capital as a modern, sustainable, eco-friendly and globally connected city.
Narayana said the MoU was pursued on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s directions to bring world-class technology and practices into Amaravati’s development.
The collaboration will build on the UK’s existing involvement through Foster + Partners, the London-based firm associated with the design of Amaravati’s Assembly, High Court and other iconic structures.
Further cooperation is proposed in urban planning, sustainable infrastructure, urban transport, riverfront development, urban regeneration and mixed-use projects.
The partnership covers four major areas- infrastructure planning, sustainable urban development, technology and innovation, and integrated urban mobility.
It envisages international-standard project planning, financial feasibility studies, investment-ready business cases, design, programme management and implementation.
Advanced systems including Intelligent Transport Systems, Building Information Modelling, digital twins and modern construction technologies will be explored.
Cooperation will also extend to metro rail, bus systems, airport connectivity, pedestrian infrastructure and data-driven transport planning, aimed at improving connectivity and reducing congestion and pollution.
Narayana said basic infrastructure, including roads, drainage, drinking water and solid and liquid waste management- is being developed on a large scale despite the State’s financial constraints.
He said UK technology could help deliver these works to higher standards. The agreement also creates scope for mobilising international finance, including potential support from UK Export Finance, subject to eligibility, due diligence and UK-content requirements.
The UK delegation included Deputy High Commissioner Gareth Wynn Owen, Trade Counsellor for South Asia Mark Birrell and senior infrastructure officials. APCRDA commissioner Vijaya Rama Raju and senior officials from CDMA and AP Metro Rail Corporation also participated.
