Recognising and celebrating excellence in urban development and innovation, the India Smart Cities Awards for 2022 have celebrated a new era of smart city achievements. Among the frontrunners, Indore rises up as the shining star, securing the prestigious National Smart City Award. The awards, announced by the central government, spotlight remarkable strides made by cities across various categories. These awards certainly amplify the efforts towards creating technologically advanced, sustainable, and citizen-centric urban landscapes.
Indore Takes Home Best National Smart City Award
In a resounding triumph of urban innovation, Indore has clinched the prestigious National Smart City Award. Following closely in the rankings, Surat has secured the honourable second position. Notably, Agra has claimed the esteemed third position, highlighting its efforts to embrace smart solutions for urban challenges. These results were announced by the central government during the awards ceremony for 2022, held on Friday.
Additionally, Madhya Pradesh claimed the coveted title of Best State Award. It is a testament to its relentless pursuit of smart city development. Tamil Nadu also secured the second spot in this category, while Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh shared the honour of being jointly ranked third. Among the impressive roster of winners, Chandigarh stands tall as the leader in the Union territory category, a testament to its commitment to smart city transformation.
Delving into specific categories, Coimbatore came out at the top in the Built Environment category. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad took the limelight for its remarkable contributions to the Culture category. The mantle of Governance excellence was claimed by Pimpri Chinchwad and Chandigarh got the crown for Mobility excellence. Indore’s resounding success continues as it claims the top position in the “sanitation” domain among smart cities.
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66 Winners Celebrate Smart City Achievements
As per the reports from India Narrative via Daily Hunt, a total of 845 applications were received across five award categories. At last, 66 final winners were declared at the ceremony on Friday. These winners comprise 35 in the Project Award, 6 in the Innovation Award, 13 in the National/Zonal City Award, 5 in the State/UT Award, and 7 in the Partner Award categories. Finally, at a ceremony scheduled for September 27 in Indore, President Droupadi Murmu will present the awards.
The Smart Cities Mission, launched on June 25, 2015, attempts to revolutionise urban landscapes. With a focus on improving urban development practices, the mission includes 100 cities. Of the ambitious projects outlined under the smart cities mission, 6,041 projects worth ₹1,10,635 crore have been accomplished. Additionally, 1,894 projects worth ₹60,095 crore are poised for completion by June 30, 2024.
Cities across the country channel their efforts into shaping a smarter, more resilient, and more inclusive urban future.
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