Connecting over 25 millions NRIs worldwide
Most trusted Name in the NRI media
NRI PEOPLE- OUR NETWORK
 

 

USTDA Launches Second Phase Of Smart City Project In Visakhapatnam, India

New Delhi,  Aug 31, 2016
NRIpress.club/Ram Saran/Sudesh/Gary Singh Grewal

NEW DELHI, India - This week, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched the second phase of its support of the City of Visakhapatnam's (Vizag) efforts to build safe, efficient and integrated urban infrastructure.

 Since the project launched, a team of U.S. companies - led by AECOM, including KPMG and IBM - have been working closely with leaders from the State of Andhra Pradesh and the City of Vizag. Together, they have begun to identify the planning and investments required to sustainably grow and modernize the city, working toward the goal of making Vizag a clean commerce capital. In addition to refining this vision, the first phase evaluated the city's infrastructure and identified sector-specific opportunities; assessed institutional and regulatory frameworks; and developed action plans for three near-term projects.  

"This project has been impressive in achieving a balance between comprehensive urban planning - which will lay the foundation for long-term growth - and identifying opportunities to improve the lives of Vizag's citizens in the near term," said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. "We are certain that with the expertise of this exceptional team of U.S. companies, and the ongoing commitment of our Indian partners, USTDA can continue to support Vizag in its ambitious smart city objectives - an effort in which we are proud to partner."

"AECOM is proud to lead this important next phase of the Vizag work, in collaboration with KPMG and IBM, and made possible by the leadership of Chief Minister Naidu and his colleagues in Vizag," said Michael S. Burke, AECOM's Chairman and CEO. "We thank USTDA for seeding the development of a smart infrastructure roadmap that can enhance the livability of this urban center for years to come.''

 The next phase of the project will deliver an Integrated Smart City Master Plan that will not only recommend planning frameworks for the entire city, but also develop specific recommendations to grow four key urban centers. It will include integrated analyses and recommendations across eight priority smart city components. This includes critical infrastructure such as transportation, water supply, sanitation and energy, as well as citizen-focused areas like social infrastructure and resilience planning. 

 This continues USTDA's efforts to identify U.S. solutions that can support India's goals of developing smart cities. It was announced during the 2016 U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, an opportunity for the U.S. and India to deepen economic and commercial ties.