Modi Government to Announce 20 Smart Cities in January


BENGALURU: The Modi government is in progress with their urban development projects and will announce the first set of smart cities in early January 2016.

A press release from the Ministry of Urban Development said, "Evaluation of smart city plans of 97 cities in the second stage of 'City Challenge' competition is already in progress and the results will be announced shortly marking a high point in promoting competition among cities for resource allocation, the first of its kind.”

The allocated cities will be offered central assistance depending on total population and number of startutory urban local bodies, as recommended in the new urban plans.

The Press release made mention of, "Government has reset the parameters for urban planning in the year 2015 and has approved an investment of about Rs 42,000 crore in 2015 for developing basic urban infrastructure and for affordable housing alone. This includes Rs 19,170 crore for improving infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage networks, storm water drains, urban transport and open spaces in 474 cities in 18 states under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched in June this year.”

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