The UK and Government of Andhra Pradesh signed a G2G MoU at the Secretariat in Velagapudi to transform Amaravati into a smart city and upgrade infrastructure across 123 municipalities. It was signed between MA&UD Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar and Chaz Walia, Deputy Director for Government Partnerships at the UK Department for Business and Trade, in the presence of MA&UD Minister P Narayana and UK officials. The partnership establishes a strategic framework centred on four core pillars.

The pillars comprise infrastructure planning, sustainable urban development, technology transfer and innovation, and integrated urban mobility. Under infrastructure planning and urban management the governments will collaborate on long-term project planning, prioritisation, financial feasibility assessments and developing investment-ready business cases. The partnership will leverage international expertise in design, execution and programme management to ensure high standards.

On sustainable urban development and technology transfer the UK will provide technical support to integrate modern urban planning principles, sustainable construction practices and environmental conservation into the State expansion plans. The State intends to adopt Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) alongside advanced construction technologies, while knowledge sharing and capacity building between UK institutions and local agencies will train engineers and planners. These measures are expected to modernise project execution and enhance delivery capacity.

The integrated urban mobility component aims to redesign transit infrastructure across major urban centres by linking metro networks, city bus corridors, airport connectivity and pedestrian provisions, and deploying data-driven traffic management to ease severe congestion and lower urban carbon emissions. Amaravati will remain a central focus but benefits will extend to all 123 municipalities and municipal corporations across Andhra Pradesh. The State, with Central and State funding, is executing civic projects worth approximately Rs 400 billion (Rs 400 bn) that include arterial roads, storm-water drainage, protected drinking water schemes and modern solid and liquid waste management. By incorporating UK technical expertise and global best practices the government aims to improve quality, longevity and delivery efficiency and will build upon earlier London-based architectural contributions for the capital.