S'pore delivers Phase 1 of new capital city plan to Andhra Pradesh government
PUBLISHED ONMarch 30, 2015 8:54 AM
SINGAPORE - The first phase of the master plan for the new capital city of India's Andhra Pradesh (AP) state has been delivered to the AP government, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry in a statement today.
Singapore is working in partnership with the AP government on a three-stage master plan for the capital city, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Dec 8 last year.
Under the MOU, Singapore and AP will draw up a Capital Region Plan, covering an area of 7,325 km2, a Capital City Plan convering 125 km2, and a detailed Seed Development Plan of about 8 km2.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Surbana International Consultants and Jurong International had been appointed as master planners for the project.
Phase one of the master plan was delievered during AP Chief Minister Chandrabadu Naidu's visit to Singapore from Mar 30 to 31.
The plan identifies appropriate long-term economic positioning of existing towns and cities within the AP capital region.
It includes a regional socio-economic analysis and demographic study, and recommends enhancing connectivity and transit-oriented urban development while also protecting agricultural zones and heritage areas.
Second Minister for Trade and Industry Mr S Iswaran said Singapore was pleased to hand over the Capital Region Plan on schedule to the AP government, and that it would boost the confidence of all stakeholders that the project was proceeding as planned.
"We look forward to working closely with the Andhra Pradesh government on the timely completion of the next two phases of the project, and to creating opportunities for Indian and Singapore companies," he said.
While in Singapore, Chief Minister Naidu also met with Singapore-based businesses about economic drivers and business opportunities in the capital region and the rest of the state, at a business roundtable organised by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore on Mar 30.
He will also be hosted to a walkabout of Toa Payoh Town Centre on Mar 31, which will demonstrate the holistic planning and implementation of Singapore's towns.
AP, India's eighth-largest state, is embarking on building a new capital city after it lost its current capital Hyderabad, an IT hub which is home to companies such as Google and Microsoft, to the newly created state of Telangana.
seanyap@sph.com.sg