Singapore’s leading consultancy, Surbana Jurong has completed its analysis of the master plan for Amaravati, the upcoming new and vibrant capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The analysis includes details of demographic and economic factors that can drive the economy.
This is the latest in a string of successful projects undertaken by Surbana Jurong. The group has already done a wide array of projects in over 51 countries across 167 cities. In Amaravati, it has now identified potential opportunities for growth and jobs creation under various sector heads for the consideration of clients.
The master plan will guide the development of 7,325 sq km of Amravati up to 2050. The Centre has so far sanctioned Rs 1,500 crore for the infrastructure of the capital city. By 2050, Amaravati is expected to be home to over 10 million people working in diverse sectors, including government, agriculture, IT and manufacturing.
“We committed master plan professionals from our headquarters in Singapore to work on this project,” Pang Yee Ean, Group Chief Operating Officer, Surbana Jurong said.
To look into various aspects of the planning at the operational level, for sectors such as transport and infrastructure, Surbana Jurong assigned key project directors and specific teams.
A steering committee was set-up, which included all key stakeholders for this project and they worked closely with the Andhra Pradesh government for the entire life of the project. “This has resulted in a master plan that enables the state to meet its economic, social and environmental objectives for decades to come,” Pang said.
The end goal always is to produce an efficient land use master plan that incorporates earmarking and use of commercial, residential, public facilities, transport and infrastructure, he said.
In July 2015, Singapore had delivered the final master plan to the Andhra government. The Seed Development Master Plan is the last of three plans which Singapore agreed to provide to Andhra Pradesh under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December last year.
During the work on the Amaravati project, the urban solutions factors have also been incorporated in the local cultural, economic and social considerations, he said and pointed out that Surbana Jurong is familiar with working on such projects in different parts of the world.
Planning and design methodology
“We have a planning and design methodology that provides tailor made solutions that fit the local environment and culture,” Pang said.
The progress of the Amaravati project is expected to catalyze economic growth around the capital by creating opportunities for foreign companies and investors in areas such as urban solutions, manufacturing and logistics.
While developing the three-part Amaravati master plan, Surbana Jurong drew on Singapore’s expertise and experience in urban planning and governance and project execution. A case in point is that the Centre for Liveable Cities and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise have begun to provide capacity development training in various areas for the Andhra Pradesh government officials who in turn will be involved in the development of Amaravati and the Capital Region.
“Amravati will truly be a capital of the people in the real sense of the word,” S Iswaran, Singapore’s Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, said.
Singapore has worked closely with the Andhra Pradesh government to complete the master plan on schedule, he said when the blueprint was handed over the state’s chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu.
The capital will be located on the banks of River Krishna, between the existing cities of Vijayawada and Guntur. Named after an ancient Buddhist city, Amravati will be the seat of the state government.
It will also be a city where locals and people from all over the world can live, work and play.
The five key features of the Amravati Master Plan are a growing and vibrant economy; liveable in terms of all civic amenities, enhancing connectivity and active mobility; ensuring sustainability and being people friendly, or in other words becoming the People’s Capital.
Earlier, the delivery of the Amaravati Master plan in May had marked the second milestone under the agreement between International Enterprise Singapore and the Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh. The first stage, the Capital Region Plan, was completed and handed over to the Andhra Pradesh government in March.
The third and final Seed Development Master Plan sets out in detail the land use and infrastructure plans for the start-up area of Amaravati. Covering an area of 16.9 sq km, the seed development will rise on the south bank of River Krishna and will be the heart of Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city. Its civic district will house the institutions and buildings of the state including the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary.
In keeping with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of Amaravati as the People’s Capital, the Seed Development will also include a mix of commercial and residential areas to meet the diverse employment, housing, social, cultural and recreational needs of its residents.
Singapore is honoured to have been invited by the Andhra Pradesh to plan and develop Amaravati, Iswaran said. The master plan was completed on schedule and Singapore looks forward to extending this partnership into implementation and development, he said. This collaboration has also opened up more business and investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh and India for Singapore companies, he added.
International Enterprise or IE Singapore is the government agency coordinating efforts across Singapore’s public and private sectors for the master plan. IE Singapore’s Chief Executive Officer, Teo Eng Cheong, said the urbanisation is set to gather pace as India further develops its economy. “This master plan demonstrates Singapore’s capabilities and paves the way for future partnerships in India, across sectors such as urban planning, infrastructure and supporting services.”
Solid Waste Management
The Singapore Cooperation Enterprise, or SCE and the Swachh Andhra Corporation or SAC have also signed an agreement to jointly develop a framework for integrated solid waste management for the state under a separate master plan.
As part of the project, SCE is working with Singapore’s Centre of Liveable Cities to deliver the framework and organise two advisory workshops in consultation with key officials from the Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department and Commissioners of selected Urban Local Bodies in Andhra Pradesh. The project was expected to be completed in three months.
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