Andhra CM Naidu showcases Amaravati vision at World Cities Summit in Singapore
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday showcased his vision for Amaravati at the World Cities Summit in Singapore, describing the greenfield capital city as a people-centric urban centre built on the principles of equity, sustainability, opportunity and livability.
Addressing the Leadership Plenary-2 session on the theme “Can Smart Cities Love Humans?”, the chief minister said Amaravati is being developed as one of the finest cities in the world with world-class infrastructure, advanced digital capabilities and a strong focus on quality of life. “People first is our policy. Amaravati will be a city based on equity, nature, opportunity and livability,” Naidu said.
Reflecting on his focus on technology-driven growth, the chief minister said he had spoken about information technology 25 years ago and that the first-mover advantage had helped Telugu people emerge among the leaders in per capita income.
Naidu said the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh provided an opportunity to build another city and that Amaravati is being developed as a greenfield capital and a platform of opportunities.
The CM said the city is taking shape around the Krishna River with inner and outer ring roads and iconic bridges forming key elements of its infrastructure. He noted that Amaravati would be developed as a 21-km waterfront city and would incorporate specialised zones such as Sports City, Financial City, Knowledge City, Justice City, Tourism City, Health City and Media City.
The CM said farmers had voluntarily contributed 35,000 acres of land under the land pooling model after a single call from the government and noted that a portion of the land is being developed and returned to them as developed plots.
Drawing a comparison with Cyberabad, Naidu said land that was valued at `2 lakh per acre when the project was launched had appreciated to around Rs 200 crore per acre.
He described Cyberabad as proof that development leads to wealth creation.
The chief minister said Amaravati is being developed as a Knowledge City and that efforts are underway to attract national and international educational institutions. He added that a Quantum Computing Hub and advanced digital infrastructure would be among the city’s major attractions.
Naidu invited people to visit Amaravati and leverage the opportunities being created through the capital city’s development with fresh and innovative ideas, the release added.
Earlier, the CM invited global semiconductor companies to explore investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh, describing the state as one of India’s most investment-friendly destinations.
