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 Urban

09 Jan 2026

Mount Invests Rs 250 Cr, Adds PUF & PEB Plants, 400+ Jobs

TUMKUR, Karnataka, January 8, 2025 - Mount Roofing & Structures Private Limited, one of India's fastest-growing manufacturers in PUF and a leading solutions provider across Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) and Polycarbonate sheets, simultaneously inaugurated its second fully automated continuous Sandwich Panel manufacturing line and a new PEB manufacturing plant at its integrated campus in Tumkur." The milestone expansion, part of a total investment of INR 250 crores, marks a significant advancement in the company's commitment to engineered performance, manu..

Titan Intech Strengthens UltraLED Push With Global LED Veteran

Titan Intech has announced the induction of global LED industry veteran Su Piow Ko to its Board of Directors, marking a strategic step in strengthening its UltraLED Displays roadmap and building globally competitive LED display solutions from India.The appointment aligns with Titan Intech’s ambition to position India as a hub for advanced, high-quality LED display manufacturing. With an increased focus on UltraLED Displays, the company aims to enhance technical governance, raise manufacturing standards and expand its presence across global markets.Su Piow Ko brings over three decades of inte..

Dun & Bradstreet Flags New Growth Engines in India 2026 Outlook

Dun & Bradstreet has released its India 2026: D&B’s Perspective report, projecting a stable macroeconomic environment underpinned by fresh opportunities for productivity-led and inclusive growth. The report outlines how India’s next growth phase will be driven by digitised logistics, trusted data ecosystems, clean energy and rising city vitality.According to the outlook, India’s GDP growth is expected to reach around 6.6 per cent by FY2027, supported by resilient consumer demand and sustained public investment. Manufacturing is seen entering a new phase, moving beyond scale towar..