‘We are aiming at making it one of the best cities in the world’

The city has become a hotspot for ‘happiness-seekers’ with over 1,500 delegates from 15 countries gathering here to find ways to build ‘happy cities’ through inclusion and innovation.

At the second edition of the Happy Cities Summit-2019 on Wednesday, representatives from the U.S., the U.K., France, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Portugal, Ghana, the UAE, Australia, China, Bangladesh, among other nations, discussed the guiding principles for happy cities such as inclusiveness, efficiency and sustainability and dynamic economics.

Civic innovation

The panel discussions focussed on civic innovation through data and technology, designing human-centric greenfield cities, natural assets for sustainable economies and vibrant ecosystem for youth entrepreneurs.

Inclusive cities for women and physical and mental well-being in the digital age are also key components.

Director-General of Smart Dubai Office Aisha Bin Bishr delivered the keynote and others shared their experiences in the many allied fields related to the happy cities.

Promoting health, community, sustainable environment and a sense of belonging were identified as the key areas. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the new capital of Andhra Pradesh was inspired by Amaravati, the capital of Lord Indra’s paradise in mythology.

“We are aiming at making Amaravati one of the best global cities in the world. People seeking longevity can come and settle here in future as Amaravati will be the most livable city,” said Mr. Naidu, addressing the meeting.

Tech edge

In these ‘inspiring times’, technology had made things possible, encouraging the governments to build futuristic cities with high living standards, he said, claiming that he had the expertise, and cited the example of Hyderabad, where two decades ago he had constructed a 163-km outer ring road and one of the best greenfield airports and added Cyberabad to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

He said an area of 500 acres was allocated for the construction of nearly 50,000 houses for the poor in the “People’s Capital,” and claimed that the place was attracting best schools and universities, hotels and hospitals and amusement parks.

Organic food

“We want people here to be happy and vibrant, and to achieve our goal, we are using technology in a big way,” he said, declaring that the State would soon be a global provider of organic food produce as, by 2024, 60 lakh farmers would be engaged in organic farming in 80 lakh hectares.

In the next eight years, he said the government would be in a position to provide free solar-powered agriculture pump-sets to the farmers.

Mr. Naidu also signed two MoUs and laid the foundation in the digital mode for 30 projects estimated to cost ₹10,000 crore.

Representatives of various countries, Minister P. Narayana, Principal Secretary, Energy, Ajay Jain, AP CRDA Commissioner Ch. Sridhar and a host of officials were present.