End of mission: UT to look after ‘smart’ city from 2025

09 Oct 2024 CW Team

Eight years after making it to the first list of proposed smart cities, Chandigarh is all set to give adieu to the Smart City Mission, which helped the city make new strides in security arrangements, traffic management, green transport, garbage and sewage handling etc. With an investment of almost Rs 10 billion since 2016 when the mission was first announced by the Union government, 34 smart projects have gone past the finish line, with just two projects pending as of now. All these projects were piloted by Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL). Chandigarh Smart City Limited will cease to exist by the end of 2024. The UT adviser has directed senior UT, MC and CSCL officials to identify departments within 45 days, where the completed and pending projects of CSCL could be transferred for their effective implementation and monitoring. By the start of 2025, doors of CSCL will be closed permanently and the selected departments of the UT administration and MC will look after all such projects, initiated and subsequently completed by CSCL in the past eight years, officials said. Out of a total 36 projects, only the pan-city 24x7 water supply project and animal carcass plant could not be completed, they added. With a 50-50 funding model between the central government and UT administration, the city witnessed completion of several state-of-the-art projects like upgrade of STPs and public bike sharing system, which was first of its kind in Chandigarh.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..