New Delhi: Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said there is a huge global interest in India’s Smart City mission and companies from 14 countries like US, Canada, UK, France, Japan have been selected for preparation of Smart City plans for 42 mission cities.

Speaking at an event organised by FICCI in New Delhi, Naidu said that 88 Mission Cities have chosen consultants to assist them in preparation for their smart city plans. He said the mission has generated much interest abroad and companies from 14 countries including US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Norway, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Abu Dhabi have been selected for preparation of city level Smart City Plans for 42 of the Mission cities.

“Think of Ecorys Nederland BV of Netherlands coming forward and winning the bid to prepare Smart City Plan for Bhagalpur in Bihar, Tractebel Engineering SA of Belgium being associated with smart city plan of Dharmashala in Himachal Pradesh, Haskoning DHV Consulting of Netherland with the little known Dahod in Gujarat, Mott MacDonald of United Kingdom with Jaipur, Deloitte Touche Tohmastsu of Japan with Bidhannagar in West Bengal, Data World of South Africa with remote Namchi in Sikkim," Naidu said naming the companies.

This speaks for the global interest in our Smart City Mission, he said. Naidu said that it is for the first time in our country, the cities are being selected based on competition under an urban development mission. He said the Prime Minister wants these capable cities to act as light houses for others to follow in due course for ensuring good quality of urban life.

Naidu said that his ministry has given time till 15 December this year to urban local bodies to submit their city level Smart City Plans which will then be evaluated in the second stage of City Challenge Competition for picking up the first batch of 20 cities based on rankings for financing during this financial year. We would like to announce these 20 cities to be selected based only on merit in January and release funds, he added.

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