Smart Cities, New Urban Development Mission to be launched next month

Shri Venkaiah Naidu calls for green construction amidst fast urbanization

Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today said that the two new major initiatives in the urban sector viz., development of Smart Cities and the New Urban Development Mission for 500 cities will take off next month. He said so while speaking at a Symposium on Smart Cities here today. Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu informed that the necessary approvals for these two new schemes would be obtained at the earliest so that they can take off the ground next month. He said that Smart Cities being a transformative new initiatives required extensive consultations with all the stakeholders including the states, urban local bodies, related central ministries, real estate developers and experts including architects, designers, urban planners etc. the Minister informed that four rounds of consultations were held with the states to sensitize them to the challenges of making the cities smart and urban governance reforms to be implemented. Basic urban services and amenities will be provided under the New Urban Development Mission for 500 cities while projects of wider impact based on area development would be taken up under Smart Cities scheme. The Urban Development Minister while elaborating on the Government’s vision of urban development said that the Government is committed to enable sustainable and inclusive urban development to promote societal progress and economic opportunities for all. Shri Venkaiah Naidu has expressed concern over the unsustainable urban practices in the country. He said the urban sector initiatives are intended to promote efficient use of urban land, water and electricity to ensure that urbanization does not benefit the rich alone. The Minister noted that architects have an important role to play in promoting sustainable urbanization through effective planning of physical spaces that promote living in harmony with the nature. Referring to the limited incentivisation of green construction, Shri Naidu noted that it was time to consider if green planning could be enforced through mandatory regulation. The Symposium was organized by the Council of Architecture, the Indian Institute of Architects in association with FICCI and CREDAI. Courtesy: pib.nic.in