The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is gearing up to host the much-anticipated India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 in Indore this week. The event is scheduled to take place at the Brilliant Convention Centre, situated in the vibrant city of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on the 26th and 27th of September 2023.
This prestigious conclave is set to be an assembly of India’s 100 smart cities, each of which has been at the forefront of revolutionizing urban development through innovative practices. The primary objective of this event is to provide a platform for these cities to showcase their remarkable accomplishments under the Smart Cities Mission, thereby shaping the blueprint for the future of urban transformation in the nation.
On the second day of the conclave, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will be conferring honors upon the winners of the fourth edition of the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022. ISAC, an initiative under the aegis of the Smart Cities Mission, has been recognizing pioneering city strategies, projects, and ideas since 2018, fostering peer-to-peer learning and the dissemination of best practices.
Among the distinguished dignitaries gracing the event are Mangubhai C. Patel, Governor of Madhya Pradesh; Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of MoHUA; Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Communications, Railways; Shri Kaushal Kishore, MoS, MoHUA; and Shri Bhupendra Singh, Urban Development Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
The conclave will also see the participation of senior officials from the Government of Madhya Pradesh, along with mayors and commissioners from all 100 smart cities, industry partners, academia, and civil society organizations associated with the Smart Cities Mission.
The event spans two days, commencing on September 26th. Day one will feature the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing the award-winning projects from ISAC 2022, as well as dialogues with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the smart cities. Attendees will also have the opportunity to embark on site visits to iconic projects implemented under the Smart Cities Mission in Indore and Ujjain.
Day two will be dedicated to the distribution of awards from ISAC 2022, with the Chief Guest presiding over the ceremony. A total of 5 States/UT and 31 unique cities, along with 7 partner organizations, will be honored. Notably, there are 66 recipients of ISAC awards, with a comprehensive list provided in Annexure B. During the course of the day, the Smart Cities Mission will unveil four reports, including the ISAC 2022 award compendium, a report by UN Habitat titled “Smart Cities Mission – Localizing Sustainable Development Goals,” a compendium of newsletters from the Smart Cities Mission, and the ISAC 2023 award pamphlet. The CEOs of the award-winning Smart Cities will also share their insights and experiences, culminating in a delightful cultural program to conclude the festivities.
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The India Smart Cities Conclave 2023 promises to be an illuminating event, offering a glimpse into the future of urban development and transformation in India.
