Pimpri Chinchwad Achieves 2nd Position in Governance Category at India Smart Cities Project Award

New Delhi, August 25, 2023: Pimpri Chinchwad’s innovative Smart Sarathi app has secured the esteemed second position in the governance category at the prestigious India Smart Cities Project Award, presented by the Government of India.

The inception of the Smart Cities Mission on June 25, 2015, marked a pivotal moment in urban development strategies. The mission is committed to reshaping urban landscapes by delivering crucial infrastructure, fostering a sustainable environment, and enhancing the quality of life for residents through cutting-edge “smart solutions.” With the aim of instigating a transformative shift in urban development, the mission has reached significant milestones.

To date, a commendable 76% of the proposed projects under the Smart Cities Mission have been successfully completed, totaling 6,041 projects with an aggregate value of ₹1,10,635 crore. The remaining 1,894 projects, valued at ₹60,095 crore, are diligently progressing towards completion by June 30, 2024.

A remarkable stride within this mission lies in the establishment of Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) across all 100 Smart Cities. These centers serve as the nerve center for urban operations, harnessing technology to optimize city management. As a result, substantial enhancements have been witnessed in several urban services, encompassing crime monitoring, citizen safety, transportation management, waste disposal, water supply, and disaster response.

The 100 Smart Cities have embarked on a wide array of projects spanning mobility, energy, sanitation, waste management, public spaces, social infrastructure, and smart governance. For instance, in the realm of smart mobility, 1,174 projects valued at ₹24,047 crore have been successfully completed, accompanied by an additional 434 projects worth ₹15,940 crore currently underway. In the sphere of smart energy, 573 projects have been achieved, with 94 projects currently in progress.

The Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector have witnessed the successful execution of over 1,162 projects, amounting to ₹34,751 crore. Moreover, 333 ongoing projects, with an estimated value of ₹18,716 crore, are steadfastly contributing to urban welfare. The development of over 1,063 public spaces has not only improved city aesthetics but also functional aspects, with 260 projects worth ₹5,470 crore currently underway. Furthermore, a cumulative total of 180 Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, valued at ₹8,228 crore, have been completed, with 27 more in progress. The endeavors extend into economic infrastructure, with 652 projects completed in areas such as market redevelopment and startup incubation centers, accompanied by 267 ongoing projects. In the social infrastructure sector encompassing health, education, and housing, 679 projects have been triumphantly accomplished, while 153 projects are currently advancing.

Under the umbrella of the Smart Cities Mission, the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) recognizes and honors city strategies, projects, and ideas that drive sustainable development within these 100 smart cities. This initiative fosters peer-to-peer learning, propagates best practices, and celebrates outstanding achievements. The ISAC has successfully conducted three editions in 2018, 2019, and 2020, with the fourth edition launched in April 2022 during the ‘Smart Cities-Smart Urbanization’ event in Surat.

The ISAC 2022 comprised a two-stage submission process: the ‘Qualifying Stage,’ involving an overall evaluation of city performance, and the ‘Proposal Stage,’ soliciting nominations for six award categories. These categories encompass Project Awards with 10 themes, Innovation Awards with 2 themes, National/Zonal City Awards, State Awards, UT Award, and Partner Awards with 3 themes.

From a pool of 80 qualifying smart cities, ISAC 2022 received a remarkable 845 nominations. After undergoing five evaluation stages, 66 winners emerged across various award categories. These victors, including 35 in Project Awards, 6 in Innovation Awards, 13 in National/Zonal City Awards, 5 in State/UT Awards, and 7 in Partner Awards categories, are slated to be felicitated by the President of India on September 27, 2023, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Annexure – I: List of winning Smart Cities under ISAC 2022