States show the way forward on building smart cities Impart clarity on selection criteria, financing and reforms to live up to the task States suggest two stage selection of cities, fixed tenures for Mayors and municipal cadres e-governance, online service delivery, hike in FAR, user fee based concessions suggested Two day stakeholders consultations held on the directive of Prime Minister concluded today

The smart cities building initiative crossed a major milestone today with the states and other stakeholders coming out with the criteria for selection and ranking of cities and broadly agreeing on innovative financing models and urban governance reforms reforms to be implemented for building 100 smart cities. The way forward emerged after intense discussions at the two day 'Consultation Workshop of States and Stakeholders on Smart Cities' that concluded today. The important stakeholder consultations were organized by the Ministry of Urban Development on the direction of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to take the states on board before proceeding further with a the launch of the Smart Cities initiative.