PM Modi to announce 20 smart cities in January

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the first batch of 20 smart cities early January.

"Evaluation of smart city plans of 97 cities in the second stage of 'City Challenge' competition is already in progress and the results will be announced shortly marking a high point in promoting competition among cities for resource allocation, the first of its kind," a Ministry of Urban Development press release read.

The Modi government has apparently reset the parameters for urban planning. It has approved an investment of about Rs 42,000 Crores in 2015 for developing basic urban infrastructure and for affordable housing .

The investment includes Rs 19,170 Crores for improving infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage networks, storm water drains, urban transport and open spaces in 474 cities in 18 states under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

Image credit: Indiatimes