Six Pune Smart City projects qualify for award 

PUNE: Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited’s (PSCDCL) six projects have qualified for the Central government’s Smart Cities Award Contest 2019. 

PSCDCL had named nine projects for the contest. Of these projects, six projects have reached the final round of the competition.

The India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) is being organised under the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. This is one of the activities initiated under the Mission, where pioneering city strategies, projects and ideas are recognised based on innovation, impact and replicability and scalability.

The ISAC is aimed at Smart Cities participating under the Smart Cities Mission. The submissions must only be made by the respective urban local bodies, Smart City Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). 

Last year, 10 projects were nominated to the contest and four out of them were awarded. This year, 33 smart cities are participating in the contest. Nine projects - Smart School, Smart Clinics, Smart Art Week, Smart Solid Waste Management, Smart Place Making, Smart Street Lighting, Smart PMC CARE 2.0, Smart E-Bus and Pune Smart City’s Pune Idea Factory Foundation (PIFF) Hackathons - have been named for the contest.  Of the nine projects, six, including Art Week, Smart Place Making, Smart Street Lighting, PMC CARE-2.0 and Smart E-Bus, have qualified in the second round of the contest. 

PSDCL CEO Rajendra Jagtap said, “We have made a presentation on the projects in New Delhi. Last year, we got awards for four projects which were the highest as compared to other smart cities. We hope to get maximum awards this year also.”

In 2018, Smart Place Making, Smart PMC CARE, Smart Lighthouse and Smart Public Bicycle Sharing were awarded.  The ISAC will recognise and reward cities, projects and innovative ideas that are promoting sustainable development in urban areas in India as well as stimulating inclusive, equitable, safe, healthy and collaborative cities, thus, enhancing the quality of life for all.

ISAC gives awards in three categories - Project Award, Innovative Idea Award, City Award (based on the submissions in the above two categories, a city would be rewarded for all-round focus on sustainability).