Marking one year of the launch of smart cities mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pune and launched 14 projects under Pune’s smart city.

Another 69 projects were launched in the other cities entailing a total investment of about ₹1,770 crore.

"Smart cities have become a mass movement. It isn't about which city gets how much funding, it is an effort for the foundation of a brighter future," Modi said.

Urbanisation is an opportunity not a challenge, he said, adding that "Cities are not just growth centres, but they have the capacity to eradicate poverty".

Compost fertiliser

Modi also informed the gathering that the government will look at giving subsidy on compost fertiliser.

"For the first time, waste that urban local bodies produce will be converted to compost fertiliser. While the local body will earn revenue, the farmer will benefit by using compost fertiliser instead of harmful chemical fertiliser," Modi added.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo and Maharshtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis among other local leaders from Pune were present on the occasion.

Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, Odisha were linked through video-conferencing on the occasion.

The projects launched in Pune and other cities include solid waste management projects under Swachh Bharat; water supply projects, sewage treatment plants and development of open and green spaces under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, housing projects for urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and area development and technology based pan-city solutions under smart cities.

Communication

Modi also inaugurated SmartNet, an online portal which enables the cities under different urban missions to share ideas and source solutions for various issues.

The initiative is aimed at developing a platform for communication among cities, academia, researchers and technologists and creating an ecosystem of learning and disseminating information among city managers and stakeholders in urban transformation.

Modi also launched a contest 'Make Your City Smart' for public, wherein the top three ideas, suggestions, designs can win from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000. The best ideas will be taken up as Detailed Project Reports and Request For Proposals as well.

Some of the projects that were launched on Saturday include Traffic Demand Modelling Project, City Common Mobility Card in Pune; Smart Learning in municipal schools, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) for water supply in Ahmedabad; Command and Control Centre in New Delhi Municipal Council; waste to energy project and multipurpose smart card in Jabalpur; public bike sharing in Jaipur; apart from projects in Kakinada, Kochi and Belgavi (Karnataka).

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