Global expertise for smart projects
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will lend EUR100 million as a grant to Smart Cities for implementation of 15 innovative projects selected through the All-India Challenge, said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on 27 Dec 2018.
The projects would be in four sectors – sustainable mobility, public open spaces, urban governance & ICT and social and organizational innovation in low-income settlements.
Technical support with global expertise will be provided for preparation and implementation of selected demonstrative projects.
In November 2018, the Ministry has selected first batch of 30 young graduates/post graduates and PhDs in the fields of Urban Planning, Urban Design, Engineering, Information and Technology, Urban Mobility, Finance, Social Sector and Environmental.
AFD and European Union are partners in the All-India Challenge named CITIIS (Cities Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustain) which was launched as part of the Indian Smart City Fellowship and Indian Smart City Internship programs on 9 July 2018.
Proposals are being evaluated following a preparatory Workshop on CITIIS which was held with international experts in September 2018.
Smart Cities Digital Payments Awards 2018 were also launched on 9 July 2018.
The objective of the awards is to guide, motivate, recognize and reward the Smart Cities for promoting digital payments and carrying out innovative payment initiatives.
Sixty-five cities have participated in Stage II of the questionnaire. The submissions are under evaluation. Results will be declared shortly. fiinews.com
