From Our Correspondent
Amaravati/Moscow: In a major step towards building a smart, technology-driven urban transport system, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Government of Moscow to modernise mobility infrastructure in Visakhapatnam.
The agreement was signed during the 5th International Transport Summit in Moscow by GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, IAS, and Maksim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow and Head of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development. Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat witnessed the signing ceremony.
The partnership follows Education, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh’s official visit to Russia in June, during which he held discussions with Moscow’s transport leadership on cooperation in urban mobility, connectivity, transport infrastructure and technology.
Smart mobility roadmap
The agreement establishes a framework for technical collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint projects aimed at developing Visakhapatnam into a future-ready city with world-class transport infrastructure.
The two governments will collaborate on a wide range of initiatives, including intelligent traffic management systems, integrated digital ticketing, AI-driven transport planning, autonomous mobility technologies, sustainable public transport, energy storage systems, automotive and electronics manufacturing, vertical transportation solutions, technology transfer and capacity-building programmes.
The partnership will also facilitate the exchange of expertise between officials and transport professionals from both sides.
Learning from Moscow
Moscow operates one of the world’s most advanced integrated urban transport networks, combining metro rail, buses, trams, electric buses and suburban rail services through a unified mobility ecosystem.
The Russian capital has successfully implemented intelligent transport systems for real-time traffic monitoring, AI-enabled traffic management, integrated passenger information services and digital fare payments through its widely used Troika smart card. Andhra Pradesh plans to study these proven models and adapt them to Visakhapatnam’s growing urban mobility needs.
Supporting Vizag’s rapid growth
Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana said Visakhapatnam is emerging as a major industrial, technology, tourism and innovation hub, making a modern transport system essential for its continued growth.
Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar, IAS, said the cooperation would provide GVMC access to global expertise in urban mobility and digital transformation.
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat said the agreement, concluded under the guidance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, would help bring advanced transport technologies and international best practices to the city.
The State Government will now work with GVMC and the Moscow administration to identify priority projects and implement them under the cooperation framework.
The initiative forms part of Andhra Pradesh’s broader vision of transforming Visakhapatnam into a clean, connected, sustainable and globally competitive smart city.