VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, Varanasi, received recognition in different categories of Smart Cities Awards, 2020, announced by the housing and urban affairs ministry on Friday.
While Indore and Surat jointly bagged the City Award for overall development, Uttar Pradesh won in the state category.
“Varanasi has been awarded for eco-restoration of Assi river in water category, smart cities leadership award category, Covid innovation award and round wise recognition,” municipal commissioner Gaurang Rathi told TOI.
“We are focusing on people’s active participation in smart city mission to further cement our position,” he said.
Smart City awards were given on themes of social aspects, governance, culture, urban environment, sanitation, economy, built environment, water and urban mobility.
Some interesting themes, sustainable business model of ICCC and innovation award in Covid management, were added this year.
The awards were announced during an online event organised by housing and urban affairs ministry to commemorate six years of transformative urban missions — Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban, which were launched by the PM on June 25, 2015.