The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) and Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) have jointly clinched the top spot in the Smart Infrastructure category at the 5th Smart Urban Innovation Awards hosted by FICCI. This recognition was part of the FICCI Conference on Business-Friendly Cities.

ADA was honoured for its city beautification and tourist facility project in Ayodhya City. SBUT received accolades for its redevelopment efforts in Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai. The awards highlight contributions by industry players collaborating with cities to enhance livability, economic sustainability, and disaster resilience.

Jagan Shah, CEO of Infravision Foundation, praised the Smart Cities Mission for promoting local sustainability. JVS Ramakrishna of L&T Technology Services emphasised a holistic approach in creating sustainable urban spaces, involving public-private sector collaboration. SK Pathak of FICCI underscored the need for business-friendly cities to attract investment and talent, citing Ahmedabad and Surat as examples.

The evaluation for these awards considered both qualitative and quantitative aspects, focusing on project progressiveness and scalability. This recognition reaffirms the importance of urban governance and innovative solutions in developing future-ready cities.