Smart cities: Incubators for India's urban future - Union Minister

26 May 2023 CW Team

During a meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Goa, Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, highlighted the significant role of the 100 Smart Cities in promoting innovation and shaping the future of urban India. He emphasised that the progress made within these smart cities would heavily influence the country's urban landscape.

Updates on the smart cities mission were provided by Minister Puri during the meeting, where he discussed key developments. As part of the committee meeting, various project sites were visited in Goa, including the Mandovi riverfront promenade, flood mitigation works, and the integrated command and control centre. These visits provided an opportunity to assess the ongoing initiatives and witness the implementation of smart city projects firsthand.

The committee discussed the current status and progress of the mission as of May 1, 2023. It was highlighted that the mission encompasses approximately 7,800 projects valued at Rs. 1.8 lakh crores. Out of these, over 5,700 projects worth Rs. 1.1 lakh crore have already been completed. The remaining projects are expected to be finished by June 30, 2024. The meeting also revealed that a total of Rs 384 billion has been released under the Smart Cities Mission until May 1, 2023, with Rs 352.61 billion already utilised.

The Smart Cities Mission, which was launched on June 25, 2015, aims to improve the quality of life for citizens by providing essential infrastructure, promoting a clean and sustainable environment, and implementing intelligent solutions.

Also read:
Only 0.18% buildings in Nagpur have rainwater harvesting
Ganga river pollution: All drains to be geo-tagged

Infrastructure Urban

16 Oct 2025

Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates ICAR-IIMR admin block in Ludhiana

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently inaugurated the administrative building at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR) in Ludhiana, Punjab. During the visit, he interacted with maize stakeholders, farmers, rural development scheme beneficiaries, and women self-help group (SHG) members. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government’s key goals include boosting foodgrain production, reducing input costs, and improving farmers’ incomes. He highlighted the importance of div..

Google to Build Rs 10,000 Cr Data Centre in Visakhapatnam

In a major boost to India’s digital infrastructure, Google will establish a 1-GW hyperscale data centre and Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The project, valued at Rs 100 billion, is expected to significantly contribute to the state’s economy and create more than 20,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Dr Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, highlighted that this landmark investment by Google will help position Andhra Pradesh as a prominent digital hub under the “Swarandhra Pradesh” vision. ..

TCIL honoured with HR Excellence Award 2025

Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ PSU under the Department of Telecommunications, has been honoured with the HR Excellence Award at the Fortune Leadership Awards 2025, held at Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi. The accolade acknowledges TCIL’s outstanding HR practices promoting employee development, innovation, and inclusivity. The award was presented by Dr. Dinesh Upadhyay, Former Member, Ministry of AYUSH, and Shri M. S. Nethrapal, IRS, and received by Shri P. Suresh Babu, CGM (HR), in the presence of distinguished leaders from various sectors. Bet..