RJ Vidyullatha, Director of Town and Country Planning, accepts the IGBC Green Champion Award on behalf of the AP Municipal Administration and Urban Development at an event in Mumbai. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT
Andhra Pradesh has been declared the country's leader in green building and sustainable development after winning the prestigious IGBC Green Champion Award at the Green Building Congress 2025 in Mumbai.
The award recognizes the state's comprehensive push to develop green infrastructure supported by 598 IGBC registered projects covering over 622 million sq ft of certified green built environment, MA&UD principal secretary S Suresh Kumar said on Saturday.
The award highlights Andhra Pradesh's multi-pronged strategy, including the Swarna Andhra Swachh Andhra initiative, Amaravati's recognition as an IGBC Green City by Design and sustainability-focused partnerships with the Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (APMRCL) and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC). The government's latest incentive package, concessions on impact fees and refunds of AP-RERA fees for silver, gold and platinum ratings aims to make green buildings more financially attractive.
Existing benefits such as reduced permit fees, staggered payment of development fees and property transfer tax concessions further support developers in adopting sustainable practices.
Receiving the award on behalf of Local Government and Urban Development, Director of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) RJ Vidyullatha said the recognition strengthens Andhra Pradesh's resolve to integrate green and net-zero principles in public and private projects.
Mr. Suresh Kumar emphasized that sustainability must start from the design stage to tackle emissions from the building sector.
With strategic plans for 20 GW of renewable energy, a Green Hydrogen Valley and zero-budget natural farming, Andhra Pradesh aims to achieve net zero by 2040 and align development with long-term climate goals.
Published – November 29, 2025 11:12 pm IST