A.P. to showcase smart city initiatives at Barcelona

A three-member delegation from the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration & Urban Development) S. Suresh Kumar, will showcase the State’s smart initiatives taken up at the 14th Smart City Expo World Congress 2025, commencing in Barcelona on November 4. 

Mr. Kumar will address the event as a ‘distinguished speaker’ from India, said an official release. 

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ketan Garg and Tirupati Municipal Corporation Commissioner Narapureddy Maurya are also part of the delegation. 

Artificial Intelligence - powered smart initiatives in urban development is the main theme of the global expo. During his tenure as Private Secretary to the former Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu, Mr. Kumar played a key role in formulating India’s Smart Cities plan that was rolled out in 2015 across the country. He is now spearheading Andhra Pradesh’s urban transformation initiatives. 

Mr. Kumar said that there are many smart cities worldwide that provide learning experience on various models that can be replicated by the urban local bodies to enhance living conditions through smart interventions. 

The A.P. delegation will also participate in the Mobility World Congress, Building World Congress, Blue Economy World Congress and Barcelona Deep Tech Summit being held in Barcelona.