Indore, renowned for being the cleanest city multiple times, clinched the title of 'Best Smart City' at the National Smart Cities Conclave 2023. The event celebrated achievements in urban development, awarding Gujarat's Surat the second position and Agra in Uttar Pradesh securing the third spot. Madhya Pradesh was recognized as the Best State, followed by Tamil Nadu, with Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh jointly securing the third position. President Droupadi Murmu commended the Smart Cities Mission for contributing to urban development. The Smart Cities Mission, promoting innovation and infrastructure development, has been a transformative initiative fostering global collaboration.
Indore, a city distinguished by five consecutive "cleanest city" rankings, has now clinched the coveted title of 'Best Smart City' in India at the National Smart Cities Conclave 2023 held in the city. Gujarat's Surat secured the second position, while Agra in Uttar Pradesh claimed the third spot among India's smart cities.
Madhya Pradesh earned recognition as the Best State, closely followed by Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh jointly secured the third position. President Droupadi Murmu honored the winners of the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022 during the event, emphasizing the pivotal role of the Smart Cities Mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs since 2018.
Expressing her joy over the substantial increase in the country's overall urban development investment, the President highlighted the Smart Cities Mission's crucial contribution to implementing best practices and fostering viable business models. She underscored the G20's focus on urban development, particularly through the sub-group Urban 20, which aimed to establish sustainable connectivity practices between cities. Emphasizing the role of cities in prioritizing sustainable development, she advocated for learning from global best practices and collaborating at both local and global levels.
President Murmu emphasized the significance of Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) in smart cities, noting that all 100 smart cities have operational ICCCs making data-driven decisions. While commending the strengthening of law and order through technologies like CCTV surveillance, she stressed the need for stronger measures, especially for women's safety.
Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri addressed the gathering, highlighting that the Smart Cities Mission embodies Prime Minister Modi's vision for a 'New Urban India' and is a key component of India's objective to become a developed country by 2047. The mission has spurred innovation, built core infrastructure, and strengthened services in India's 100 major cities. Minister Puri lauded the empowerment of the third level of governance through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and the operational ICCCs serving as 'War Rooms' during the pandemic.
The achievements of the Smart Cities Mission were spotlighted by Minister Puri, with 7,934 projects worth Rs 171,044 crore sanctioned and 6,069 projects worth Rs 1,10,794 crore completed. Another 1,865 projects worth Rs 60,250 crore are set for completion by June 2024, and approximately Rs 25,000 crore worth of public-private partnership projects have been delivered.
The mission has led to the construction of over 2,700 km of smart roads, 7,000 smart classrooms, installation of more than 50 lakh LED/solar lights, and the establishment of over 300 smart health centres. The minister congratulated the 31 cities receiving awards, acknowledging the merit of over 840 applications. The conclave, witnessing active participation from all 100 smart cities, serves as a testament to the collective commitment to advancing urban development and sustainability in India.
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