Govt devises 20:20 model to help laggard smart cities

24 Feb 2020 CW Team

Under the Smart Cities mission, the Central Government has devised a 20:20 model to pair the cities in the top 20 list with those in the bottom 20 with an aim to boost the laggard cities and help them kick-start their smartening process by borrowing technical know-how and financial studies.

Among the top, Ahmedabad has been paired with Chandigarh (ranking 81st currently); Nagpur (ranking 2nd) has been paired with Port Blair (ranking 96th); Tirupur (ranking 3rd) with Silvassa (ranking 87th); Ranchi (ranking 4th) with Shimla (ranking 92th); Bhopal (ranking 5th) with Aizawl (ranking 82nd); Surat (ranking 6th) with Saharanpur (ranking 91st).

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has reportedly opened a 100-day challenge for the laggard cities to boost their efforts and up their game by the fifth anniversary of the Smart Cities Mission on June 25.

Each of the top 20 cities have been paired with the bottom 20 as ‘sister cities’. Each sister city would be signing a MoU among themselves with aim at improving the ranking of the bottom city. The MoU will reportedly be valid for one year. The top sister cities will be providing access to technical and financial studies, including DPRs, feasibility studies and impact assessments.

The 100 cities selected under the mission have 5,151 projects worth Rs 2,050.18 billion identified so far. About 80 per cent of the 5,151 projects have been tendered so far, with about 60 per cent completed.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..