URBIS Centre opened at APCRDA headquarters

Amaravati: The state government, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, has launched the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Centre (URBIS) at Amaravati to support urban infrastructure development and promote innovative and sustainable planning practices in the state.

The URBIS Centre was formally inaugurated on Wednesday on the second floor of the APCRDA headquarters at Rayapudi. Minister for municipal administration and urban development P Narayana, MA&UD principal secretary S Suresh Kumar, APCRDA commissioner V Vijayaramaraju, additional commissioner K Karthik, office management director Vallabhaneni Srinivas and senior officials participated in the inauguration along with the UN-Habitat delegation.

During its visit to Amaravati, the UN-Habitat team was first briefed at the Amaravati Integrated Command and Control Centre (AICCC) at the APCRDA office. Officials made a presentation using the Amaravati Digital Twin platform, explaining the ongoing development works and long-term plans for the capital city.

The presentation covered the Amaravati Master Plan, major infrastructure projects, construction of the Amaravati Government Complex (AGC), and proposed economic and investment opportunities in the capital.

The delegation later visited the Quantum Valley–Amaravati Quantum Computing Centre (AQCC), VIT University, the cycling and walking track developed along the E6 road and the Gravity Canal project. Officials explained the progress of the respective projects to the visiting team.

Later, the UN-Habitat delegation held discussions with Minister Narayana, Suresh Kumar, V Vijayaramaraju and K Karthik at the APCRDA office. A contribution agreement was subsequently signed by the principal secretary on behalf of the State government and the Director representing UN-Habitat.

The UN-Habitat delegation comprised Patrick Canagasingham, director, regional programmes division; Shubhagato Dasgupta, chief, planning and finance; Aline Machado Da Matta, head, Geneva liaison office and head, United Nations Innovation Technology Accelerator for Cities (UNITAC) and Nilesh Prakash Rajadhyaksha, country programme manager, UN-Habitat India Office.

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The Hans India