New Delhi: Delhi will be developed into a “global city" and the country’s first smart city will be set up here to decongest the national capital and facilitate it with all modern amenities, Union urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said here on Saturday.

“We want to make Delhi a truly global city, having all latest and modern amenities and facilities that any other global city like London or San Francisco has. We want to have world-class entertainment venues like Disneyland or Universal Studios here," Naidu said.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government has planned to set up 100 smart cities and Naidu said that the first such city will come up in the national capital. “Delhi is the heart of India and the first smart city would come up here. The city of Barcelona in Spain has also promised technological support to us in our effort in this direction," he said.

“I saw the city of Barcelona, and apart from modern buildings, they have also preserved their old architecture. We also want to preserve our traditional architecture, that India is so richly endowed with, even as we embrace modernity," he said during an event organized by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) at its headquarters here.

Talking about the smart city initiative further, he said the focus would be to build global educational and health institutes and entertainment facilities.

“We also want to liberalize the industrial estate policy. An industrial space may not necessarily contain factories, but showrooms also. A committee will be formed to look into this issue as well," the minister said.

DDA’s vice-chairman Balvinder Kumar in a media briefing on Friday had outlined the plans for the smart city in the Capital. The smart city will be a complete sub-city, which would be located in an area of 20-24 hectares, zoned out of Dwarka, Rohini and Narela, and will be equipped with latest technologies and waste-management techniques. PTI

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