Indore tops in govt's Smart City contest, followed by Surat, Agra

Indore on Friday bagged best "National Smart City Award", followed by Surat and Agra.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry anunced India Smart Cities Awards for 2022 on Friday.

awards would be presented by President Droupi Murmu at a ceremony in Indore on September 27.

Among 66 winners in different categories, Mhya Presh has won best 'State Award' and Tamil Nu bagged second spot. Rajasthan and Uttar Presh were on third spot jointly.

Chandigarh has been ranked number one in Union territory category. It has also emerged a winner in best governance category for its e-governance services, according to ministry.

Among 100 cities being developed under Modi government's Smart Cities Mission, Indore bagged top spot, Surat in Gujarat second place and Agra third spot.

In October last year, Indore was judged India's cleanest city for sixth time in a row.

In 'built environment' category, Coimbatore was ranked best city for its model ros, and restoration and rejuvenation of lakes, followed by Indore while third spot was shared by New Town Kolkata and Kanpur.

Jabalpur has emerged as winner in 'Ecomy' category with an incubation centre while Indore and Luckw followed it on next two spots.

According to ministry, Chandigarh has been judged best city in mobility category for "Public Bike Sharing (PPP) along with cycle tracks", followed by New Town Kolkata and Sagar.

Indore has also won best city award in 'urban environment' category for "air quality improvement and Ahilya Van along with vertical gardens". Shivamogga and Jammu, in same category, were awarded for ir initiatives in "development of conservancies" and e-auto for old city respectively.

ministry said that 'Smart Cities Mission' (SCM) launched on June 25, 2015, is aimed at providing core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to citizens through application of "smart solutions".

This is a transformational mission aimed to bring about a parigm shift in practice of urban development in country, it ded.

Of total proposed projects under SCM, 6,041(76 per cent) projects worth Rs 1,10,635 crore have been completed and remaining 1,894 projects worth Rs 60,095 crore will be finished by June 30, 2024.