Rs 2.04 lakh crore to be allocated under Smart Cities for urbanisation across 99 cities: Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, MoHUA

11 Jun 2018 Editorial Team

The Smart Cities mission is central to the overall strategy to accommodate the massive urbanisation that is expected in the future. The government’s mission to develop smart cities opens up massive opportunities for contribution from various organisations, thinkers, technology providers, etc. Ninety-nine cities have been selected as part of the Smart Cities mission, with a total allocation of Rs 2.04 lakh crore to be utilised for multiple projects.

The 4th Smart Cities India Expo 2018 was inaugurated on May 23, 2018, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, by Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group. The inaugural session of the event saw the presence of HE Daniel Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India; CR Chaudhary, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry; Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; and LC Goyal, Chairman, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).

Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said, “The concept of smart cities is not simply about integrating technology into urban infrastructure, but about improving the overall quality of life of citizens residing in the country. The mission aims to undertake a complete urban transformation to meet the demands of more than 50 per cent of the population that is expected to reside in cities by 2050. Since the launch of the Smart Cities mission, we have flagged off projects worth Rs 2.04 lakh crore towards developing urban infrastructure and living spaces for more than 90 cities that have been selected for the mission.”

CR Chaudhary, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, said, “Being involved with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it fills me with great hope when I see new-age start-ups and entrepreneurs contributing towards the development of new technologies that can help us solve key problems in the country. These young men and women, with their ground-breaking ideas and extraordinary vision, are making great strides with smart and innovative technology-driven solutions. Hence, I believe that it is these start-ups and businesses that will play a key role in helping the government and institutions in realising the goal of transforming India into a smart and sustainable country.”

Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said, “The government’s goal is the holistic development of the nation, which we believe must start with our villages and cities. Smarter villages and cities can not only help in providing higher quality of basic infrastructure such as health and education, but also create job opportunities for marginalised sections of the society and uplift them.”

Delivering the inaugural address at the event, HE Daniel Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India, said, “I feel privileged to participate in this prestigious event as Israel joins India for the second time at the One Mega Event. While each country across the world faces unique challenges, they also possess a diverse set of competencies and tools. No country has all the solutions, but with the combined abilities of these various tools and diverse intellectual capital, we can work together to build a better world. Israel has contributed immensely to the world by providing various nations with tailored technologies to meet diverse challenges, and I am proud to see our technological partnership with India reaching new heights.”

The 4th Smart Cities India 2018 expo, co-organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), NASSCOM Centre of Excellence – IoT and Exhibitions India Group, offers five diverse expos with the view to develop attractive, safe and smart cities. These include: Smart Cities India expo, Buildings India expo, Solar India expo, Transport India expo, and Water India expo. The event saw the participation of Indian and international industry experts, along with leaders from the city, government and community, who shared their views and proposals to make cities more sustainable, efficient, and transparent.

The Smart Cities mission is central to the overall strategy to accommodate the massive urbanisation that is expected in the future. The government’s mission to develop smart cities opens up massive opportunities for contribution from various organisations, thinkers, technology providers, etc. Ninety-nine cities have been selected as part of the Smart Cities mission, with a total allocation of Rs 2.04 lakh crore to be utilised for multiple projects. The 4th Smart Cities India Expo 2018 was inaugurated on May 23, 2018, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, by Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group. The inaugural session of the event saw the presence of HE Daniel Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India; CR Chaudhary, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry; Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; and LC Goyal, Chairman, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said, “The concept of smart cities is not simply about integrating technology into urban infrastructure, but about improving the overall quality of life of citizens residing in the country. The mission aims to undertake a complete urban transformation to meet the demands of more than 50 per cent of the population that is expected to reside in cities by 2050. Since the launch of the Smart Cities mission, we have flagged off projects worth Rs 2.04 lakh crore towards developing urban infrastructure and living spaces for more than 90 cities that have been selected for the mission.” CR Chaudhary, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, said, “Being involved with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, it fills me with great hope when I see new-age start-ups and entrepreneurs contributing towards the development of new technologies that can help us solve key problems in the country. These young men and women, with their ground-breaking ideas and extraordinary vision, are making great strides with smart and innovative technology-driven solutions. Hence, I believe that it is these start-ups and businesses that will play a key role in helping the government and institutions in realising the goal of transforming India into a smart and sustainable country.” Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said, “The government’s goal is the holistic development of the nation, which we believe must start with our villages and cities. Smarter villages and cities can not only help in providing higher quality of basic infrastructure such as health and education, but also create job opportunities for marginalised sections of the society and uplift them.” Delivering the inaugural address at the event, HE Daniel Carmon, Ambassador of Israel to India, said, “I feel privileged to participate in this prestigious event as Israel joins India for the second time at the One Mega Event. While each country across the world faces unique challenges, they also possess a diverse set of competencies and tools. No country has all the solutions, but with the combined abilities of these various tools and diverse intellectual capital, we can work together to build a better world. Israel has contributed immensely to the world by providing various nations with tailored technologies to meet diverse challenges, and I am proud to see our technological partnership with India reaching new heights.” The 4th Smart Cities India 2018 expo, co-organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), NASSCOM Centre of Excellence – IoT and Exhibitions India Group, offers five diverse expos with the view to develop attractive, safe and smart cities. These include: Smart Cities India expo, Buildings India expo, Solar India expo, Transport India expo, and Water India expo. The event saw the participation of Indian and international industry experts, along with leaders from the city, government and community, who shared their views and proposals to make cities more sustainable, efficient, and transparent.