Amaravati Capital City
URBIS Centre opens at APCRDA headquarters in Amaravati with UN-Habitat support
The Urban Innovation and Sustainability Centre (URBIS), set up with UN-Habitat support, opened on 7 October 2026 on the second floor of the APCRDA headquarters at Rayapudi. The state says it will back urban infrastructure work and sustainable planning across Andhra Pradesh; no completion or operating timeline for the wider work has been published in the reports reviewed.
| Opening date | Wednesday, 7 October 2026 (status as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | Second floor, APCRDA headquarters, Rayapudi, Amaravati |
| Lead state officials present | Ponguru Narayana (Minister, MA&UD); S. Suresh Kumar (Principal Secretary); V. Vijayarama Raju (APCRDA Commissioner) |
| UN-Habitat delegation size | Four named officials |
| Agreement signed | Contribution Agreement between the state and UN-Habitat; financial value not reported in sources reviewed |
| Amaravati master plan area | 217 sq km, planned for 3.5 million people by 2050 (World Bank, December 2024 figures) |
| Population in Amaravati area (2024) | About 100,000 people (World Bank, December 2024) |
What happened
The Andhra Pradesh government, working with UN-Habitat, launched the Urban Innovation and Sustainability Centre (URBIS) in Amaravati. The formal opening took place on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, on the second floor of the APCRDA headquarters at Rayapudi. The centre is meant to support urban infrastructure development and to push planning practice toward more innovative and sustainable methods.
Who attended and who decided
Municipal administration and urban development minister Ponguru Narayana took part, along with principal secretary S. Suresh Kumar, APCRDA commissioner V. Vijayarama Raju, additional commissioner K. Karthik and office management director Vallabhaneni Srinivas. A UN-Habitat delegation was also present for the opening. On the UN-Habitat side, the group included Patrick Canagasingham (Director, Regional Programmes Division), Shubhagato Dasgupta (Head, Planning and Finance), Aline Machado da Matta (Head of the Geneva Liaison Office and of UNITAC) and Nilesh Prakash Rajadhyaksha (Country Programme Manager, UN-Habitat India Office).
Agreement signed
After discussions with the minister, principal secretary and APCRDA officials, a Contribution Agreement was signed at the APCRDA office. Suresh Kumar signed for the state and a UN-Habitat representative signed for the agency. The reports reviewed do not state the amount or the length of the agreement.
Briefing and the Digital Twin
Before the opening, the visiting team was briefed at the Amaravati Integrated Command and Control Centre (AICCC) in the APCRDA office. Officials presented on the Amaravati Digital Twin platform, covering ongoing works and long-term plans. The presentation included the Amaravati Master Plan, major infrastructure projects, construction of the Amaravati Government Complex and proposed economic and investment opportunities.
Site visits
The delegation also toured several live projects: the Amaravati Quantum Computing Centre (Quantum Valley), VIT University, a cycling and walking track built along E6 Road, and the Gravity Canal project. Officials briefed the visitors on progress and on wider development plans.
What it changes
The reports describe URBIS as a dedicated platform that supports infrastructure planning and coordination with UN-Habitat. Its role is advisory and supporting in nature as described; the reports do not list staff, budget lines, or specific programmes the centre will run.
What is next, and what is not yet confirmed
A UN-Habitat press release from July 2026 described a wider partnership, called UPLIFT-AP, which plans a Centre of Excellence in Amaravati as an international hub for urban research, innovation and policy dialogue. The URBIS opening is reported as a launch. The Centre of Excellence is described as planned, and no build date or operating date for it was found in the sources reviewed. Readers should treat the Centre of Excellence as announced rather than operational.
Status as of October 2026: URBIS has been formally opened; the wider Centre of Excellence and any URBIS work programme remain to be confirmed through official updates from APCRDA or the state government.
Frequently asked questions
When and where did the URBIS Centre open?
The URBIS Centre was formally opened on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, on the second floor of the APCRDA headquarters at Rayapudi in Amaravati.
Who was involved in the opening?
Minister Ponguru Narayana, principal secretary S. Suresh Kumar and APCRDA commissioner V. Vijayarama Raju attended, along with a four-member UN-Habitat delegation.
What did the two sides sign?
A Contribution Agreement was signed at the APCRDA office by the principal secretary for the state and a UN-Habitat representative. The financial value of the agreement was not stated in the reports reviewed.
What did the UN-Habitat team see during the visit?
They were briefed at the Amaravati Integrated Command and Control Centre and shown the Digital Twin platform. They also visited the Quantum Computing Centre, VIT University, the E6 Road cycling and walking track and the Gravity Canal project.
Is the planned Centre of Excellence already operating?
No. The July 2026 UN-Habitat release describes it as planned. The sources reviewed give no completion or opening date for it.
How big is the planned Amaravati city?
The World Bank's December 2024 release says the government has prepared a master plan for a 217 sq km area that could hold 3.5 million people by 2050.
Sources
- URBIS Centre opened at APCRDA headquarters - The Hans India
- URBIS Centre launched at APCRDA headquarters to support Amaravati's urban development plans - PropNewsTime
- UN-Habitat press release: State of Andhra Pradesh and UN-Habitat commit to urban partnership (PDF)
- World Bank Supports Inclusive and Sustainable Development of Amaravati City (December 20, 2024)