Amaravati, Nov 24 (NationPress) The Andhra Pradesh government unveiled a transformative urban infrastructure acceleration mission worth Rs 66,523 crore on Monday, leveraging Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) to evolve the state's cities into dynamic, future-ready economic centers.

The Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department estimates an investment of Rs 66,523 crore by 2029 across 12 key sectors, including smart water systems, modern transit corridors, integrated mobility, sustainable housing, and advanced urban utilities, not including the development of Amaravati.

These initiatives are projected to contribute Rs 2.8 lakh crore to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), as per official reports.

In an effort to stimulate PPP-driven urban transformation, the state has earmarked Rs 2,000 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in this year's budget. The projects are anticipated to create 2.3 lakh direct and indirect jobs, with a target of 45 percent skilled youth employment and 35 percent participation from women in emerging urban services and technologies.

"Our benchmarks are intended to meet global urban infrastructure standards while enhancing the living experience for our citizens. These projects will generate remarkable economic momentum and firmly establish Andhra Pradesh as one of India's fastest-growing urban development hubs," stated S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of the MA&UD Department.

This mission prioritizes the development of five smart cities with extensive IoT integration, 2,500 km of upgraded urban road networks, 15 new urban transit systems, and the statewide implementation of green building norms aiming for 40 percent higher energy efficiency.

The state seeks to attract Rs 35,000 crore in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) across eight proposed economic zones by utilizing innovative financing models, tech-driven governance, and structured PPP frameworks.

A dedicated PPP unit, comprehensive policy framework, and a detailed execution and risk mitigation roadmap have been established.

The Principal Secretary also mentioned significant progress on the state's 33-project PPP pipeline, covering areas such as Waste-to-Energy, Housing, Urban Mobility, Tourism, Renewable Energy, and Commercial Infrastructure.

Highlighted projects include Rs 1,254 crore Waste-to-Energy initiatives across Nellore, Rajahmundry–Kakinada, Kurnool, Kadapa, Vijayawada, and Tirupati, which are progressing well, while major initiatives like MIG Housing, Rushikonda Land Monetisation, and the Iconic Tower have entered the bidding phase.

Part of the state's reform-driven urban strategy, Andhra Pradesh aims to leverage benefits from various Indian government schemes including the Urban Challenge Fund – Rs 10,000 crore, Credit Enhancement Initiative – Rs 400 crore, Urban Reforms Incentives under SSASCI 2025-26 – nearly Rs 2,000 crore, and Municipal Shared Service Centres (MSSC) – Rs 50 crore sanctioned.

A crucial element of this initiative is the Land Monetisation Programme covering 1,300 acres across 73 parcels in 18 UDAs, aimed at converting idle government land into high-value urban assets. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) have already been announced in four UDAs, with more to follow soon.

The Principal Secretary has instructed all implementing agencies to expedite approvals, accelerate statutory clearances, and address stakeholder concerns to ensure the timely execution of ongoing and future projects.