Amaravati

India’s extravagant scheme of building smart cities along the lines of Singapore is getting closer to reality – with a new capital city on the works modeled to be a sustainable Utopia.

Made possible through a partnership between Andhra Pradesh and Singapore, the new capital city of Amaravati sits on 217.23 sq. km. of land panning across both the Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh. The city will specifically allocate 51% of its total lot area for green spaces while 10% is reserved for water bodies – all the while housing some of the country’s most iconic buildings.

Throughout the planning process, culturally-induced considerations were given on the alignment and orientation of its buildings. According to Srikant Nagulapalli of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), buyers tend to look for north- or east-facing properties when buying real estate. This is due to the Indians’ deep-rooted beliefs on Vishnu, translated as the science of architecture, which emphasizes the role of building positions and alignments in bringing either good or bad luck. In a world gradually getting accustomed to global town planning principles, asserting the values of Vishnu is one of the many interesting key points of the project.

Divided into 9 theme cities, Amaravati is set to be the powerhouse of numerous industries, particularly of electrical, finance, government, health, justice, media, and sports strategically placed throughout the city. Symbolizing the city’s forward-facing progress is the addition of iconic government buildings designed by architects Norman Foster and Hafeez Contractor.

Amaravati’s projected population of around 3.5 million inhabitants is bound to enjoy the highest standards of sustainability and technology currently being developed in India – particularly photovoltaics. An efficient mass transportation featuring electric vehicles, strategic cycle routes, and water taxis are expected to punctuate its shaded streets and squares, thereby encouraging walkability.

Upon completion, Amaravati promises to be an Indian city like no other – a metropolis free of the daily chaos, traffic, and pollution plaguing the rest of India’s urban centers. Heralded to be a place where architecture and nature coexists, and where sprawling blocks of clay-colored buildings look more of a tapestry other than a reality, the new capital city of Amaravati is truly set to be the “people’s capital.”