Next set of smart cities to be announced next week

New Delhi, Sep 16 (KNN) The Centre has decided to announce the next set of 27 cities for financing under the Modi-government’s flagship Smart City Mission next week, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

Speaking at the 12th Indo-US Economic Summit here, Naidu said “I am happy to tell you that 20 cities were announced in the first and another 13 in the supplementary round. Now, I am going to announce another 27 cities in the next week.”

So far, the government has announced 33 cities that will be developed as 'smart cities' which would have facilities such as assured water and power supply, sanitation and solid waste management systems, efficient urban mobility and public transportation, IT connectivity and e-governance, among others.

The Modi-government has aimed to transform about 100 cities by 2019-20, with the Union government providing financial support of Rs 48,000 crore over five years.

Listing out various initiatives the Modi-government like Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Clean India, and Start-up India, he called for ideas and innovations for development of the country.

"The need of the hour is 'Ideas, Innovation, Investments and Implementation. From promoting cleanliness to competitive manufacturing, this flow of ideas are a certain way of heralding 'acchhe din'," he said. (KNN Bureau)