VIJAYAWADA: Asserting that his government has no intentions to construct a concrete jungle in the name of the capital city, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said it is focusing on developing a world-class capital city by effectively using technology.Participating in the Joint Implementation Steering Committee’s (JISC) second meeting, which was attended by Singapore Trade and Industry Minister I Eswaran at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Friday, the Chief Minister said that priority would be given for using electric vehicles in Amaravati. “We will soon introduce 1,500 electric vehicles,” he said, adding that the city will be planned in such a way that it should not take more than 30 minutes to travel from one end of the capital to another.
Discussing about Singapore’s involvement in the development of the capital city which includes solid waste management projects, district cooling systems and skill development programmes, Naidu said that the relationship between Andhra Pradesh and the Singapore government has largely contributed to the planning of the capital city. He added that he is grateful for the continuous cooperation from Singapore government.
Before the meeting, the Chief Minister showed Iswaran and the other delegates models of the buildings of the Legislative Assembly, Secretariat and High Court to come up in Amaravati.
Centre for Livable Cities executive director Khoo Teng Chye said that the solid waste management project had been developed for Amaravati. The Chief Minister suggested that Swachh Andhra Pradesh Corporation can assist the Singapore government in waste management.
Officials also discussed on forming the Amaravati Planning, Design and Research Institute and the Capital Region Investment Promotion Agency (CRIPA).
Assistant CEO of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore Tan Soon Kim mentioned that they are currently working on projects to collaborate with the AP government for skill development programmes.
The Chief Minister suggested that Singapore’s Department of Trade and Industry and Lee Kuan University can work on programmes for human resource development in Andhra Pradesh.
After the officials informed that there will be at least three flights per week between Singapore and Vijayawada very soon, the Chief Minister sought increased connectivity between the two places, to increase the engagement between the two governments for different development programmes.
District Cooling System (DPS), which is in place in Singapore, will be set up in Amaravati too. Jimmy Khoo, Managing Director of Singapore District Cooling, said that this system is the first of its kind in the world as it saves almost 40 per cent of the power consumption along with reduction in the city’s average temperature.
Naidu also asked them to implement cooling systems in bus stops using solar power in the cities of Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister was invited to attend the Industrial Partnership Summit in July 2018. Naidu suggested the Singapore government officials to conduct this convention once in Andhra Pradesh.
Ambassador Gopinath Pillai presented the book, “States of India”, which is authored by him, and proposed that Amaravati buildings should be included in the book as a chapter.
Prior to the meeting, the Chief Minister took the Singapore delegation to the AP Legislative Assembly and Council and explained that the buildings were constructed in a record time. Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana, Panchayat Raj, IT and Rural Development Minister Nara Lokesh, Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar and other officials were present.
Singapore PM to be chief guest at Republic day event
It was also confirmed that the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in the coming January. Chief Minister Naidu said that the Prime Minister should visit the capital city.
Singapore link
Singapore’s involvement in the development of the capital city includes solid waste management projects, district cooling systems and skill development programmes
CM Naidu urged Singapore to implement cooling systems in bus stops, using solar power, in the cities of Andhra Pradesh.
District Cooling System
District Cooling System (DPS), which is in place in Singapore, will be set up in Amaravati. This system is the first of its kind in the world as it saves almost 40% of power consumption along with reducing Singapore’s average temperature.
There will be at least three flights per week between Singapore and Vijayawada soon
1,500 electric vehicles to be introduced in Amaravati, says CM