Smart Cities contest with ₹50 lakh prize launched

NEW DELHI: To promote competition among Smart Cities and measure the quality and impact of projects undertaken under the flagship programme, the housing and urban affairs ministry has launched Smart Cities Awards Contest, 2017, with a total prize money of over ₹50 lakh.

Senior ministry officials said the contest was aimed at recognising and rewarding cities, projects and innovative ideas that promote the goals of the mission.

“The evaluation criteria will include impact, innovation and scalability/replicability in other areas of the city,” an official said.

All projects completed by April 1, 2018, will be eligible for participation.

The awards will be presented on June 25 next year, marking the third anniversary of the launch of the mission. “Excellence will be recognised and awarded in areas such as improving governance, quality of built environment, social infrastructure, culture and economy, environment, transportation, mobility and water and sanitation,” a ministry spokesman said.

Best performers in each of these categories will be awarded ₹5 lakh each and a scroll. Proposals in prescribed form will have to be sent by April 25 next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the ambitious plan to develop 100 Smart Cities in June 2015.

Of these 100, 90 have been selected through an inter-city competition so far. The remaining 10 are likely to be chosen by early next year.

The Smart Cities programme is meant to upgrade urban infrastructure in cities, majority of which fare poorly on various socio-economic indicators.

The cities will enjoy uninterrupted power and water supplies, smart public transport, internet connectivity, e-governance along with quality infrastructure.