United States keen to participate in all 100 Smart City projects

United States showing interest in India’s Smart City initiative has said that it is keen to participate in all the proposed 100 smart city projects and has offered technological support for developing a sustainable economy. US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews has said that there are substantial business opportunities for the US companies in India’s smart city projects and added that added that US can be a very valuable partner in helping India to develop sustainable economy.

Andrews is leading a delegation of 18 US companies on a Smart Cities Infrastructure Business Development Mission. He is on a five-day visit to India to meet both policy makers and Indian businesses. He would showcase the great technologies that provide great value and potential for India.  the US delegation met Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who assured them that Special Purpose Vehicles being set up for implementation of Smart City plans will be empowered to ensure timely execution of all projects by taking required decisions and ensuring necessary coordination.

Terming financing of these smart cities projects as one of the challenge, Andrews said there would be multi-financial channel for these projects, including the central government, local government and businesses. He further said that US businesses have the technological solutions which will be helpful across India.

Recently, the government had announced the first batch of 20 smart cities from 11 states and Delhi. Apart from Bhubaneshwar, the cities in the first batch were Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bhopal, NDMC area of Delhi, Jaipur, Surat, Kochi, Jabalpur, Visakhapatnam, Solapur, Davanagere, Indore, Coimbatore, Kakinada, Belagavi, Udaipur, Guwahati and Ludhiana.  Altogether, 100 cities are to be developed into smart cities as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious programme.