Smart cities attract Canadian delegation to India

Smart Cities India

Eyeing business opportunities worth over Rs 10 lakh crores, a business delegation from Canada has proposed to help smart cities in India to modernise their urban infrastructure.

“Canada is globally recognised for its excellence in urban infrastructure and smart cities, which includes high-level project management and specialised technical skills and for developing environmentally-friendly technological solutions combined with innovative design,” said Nadir Patel, the Indian-origin High Commissioner for Canada, who is in India with a business delegation looking to invest in smart city projects.

He said that delegates representing 30-odd Canadian companies are also looking forward to learn more about “the exciting developments and plans for transformation in India’s urban infrastructure and smart cities”.

The Government of India has planned to invest Rs 1 lakh crore each in Smart Cities Mission and the Amrut scheme. Of the total investment planned under these two ambitious programmes, the private sector is estimated to invest Rs 8 lakh crore, while Rs 2 crore can be invested by other sources.

“Canada can offer a tremendous amount of solutions for modernisation of Indian cities and 30 Canadian companies have come here to top the opportunity,” Patel said, impying that Canadian companies can look into this huge investment opportunity.