PM Modi calls upon Smart City representatives to decide direction of development

Launching three much awaited urban initiatives- 'Smart City', AMRUT and 'Housing for All', Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the attending representatives of around 500 cities across the country to take upon themselves to decide the pace and direction of development.

The Prime Minister drew special attention to the plight of millions who have to migrate to cities in search of livelihood, a phenomenon that is going to accentuate in future.

Welcoming the launch of crucial initiative, Sumit Mazumder, President, CII said: "The industry is very optimistic and sincerely hopes that isolated successful urban initiatives across the country would now be scaled up to the national level through these dedicated missions and innovative solutions like providing interest subvention up to 6.5 percent on loans to EWS for affordable housing".

In his address, Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu called for inclusive urban development for all those on the fringes of urban landscape.