Amaravati, July 15 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Wednesday that Amaravati is being developed as a world-class city that will serve as the driving force of the state’s future economic growth.

He said that the Integrated master plan for Amaravati should be designed as an inclusive capital city where people from all parts of the state can come to work and live together.

Reviewing the progress of the Amaravati 2.0 Integrated Master Plan and the Land Pooling Scheme (LPS-2) with senior officials and representatives from Singapore, the Chief Minister stressed on strengthening Amaravati’s economy to create large-scale employment opportunities.

He said the capital is being developed into an international-standard city with well-planned Inner and Outer Ring Roads.

During the meeting, the Singapore team presented the project’s scope, implementation strategy and action plan. They informed the Chief Minister that the plan includes area development, infrastructure planning and investment models.

Referring to the state’s water resources, the Chief Minister noted that despite challenges posed by El Nino conditions, the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme has ensured the transfer of Godavari waters to the Krishna River, making the capital region water-secure and resource-rich.

He further stated that Amaravati should evolve into a creative city with a strong economic base. The government’s goal is to achieve global benchmarks and one of the highest per capita income levels through sustainable and innovation-driven development. He added that Amaravati is being planned with a strong focus on environmental sustainability through the adoption of green energy and green building practices.

Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government signed an MoU with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to promote inclusive and sustainable urban development across the state.

The strategic agreement was formalised between the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration Department and UN-Habitat in the presence of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach, who participated virtually from Singapore.

The partnership aims to establish a Centre of Excellence for Urban Affairs in Amaravati as part of the state’s SURGE AP, RISE AP and UPLIFT AP initiatives. The collaboration will focus on urban poverty alleviation, improving livelihoods for the urban poor and promoting inclusive city development.

Under the MoU, Andhra Pradesh and UN-Habitat will work together on strategic urban planning for regional economic growth, climate-resilient and sustainable urban ecosystems, digital governance, municipal finance and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The two sides also agreed to showcase Andhra Pradesh’s urban development achievements at the 14th World Urban Forum (WUF14) to be held in Mexico in 2028.

–IANS

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