India, US to develop 3 smart cities

India and US decided to develop three major cities—Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam as smart cities. The action plan for developing them will be chalked out in three months.

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the three state governments of UP, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh have signed MoUs to develop these cities as smart cities.

The task force, comprising officials from the centre, state governments and USTDA, will discuss city specific features, project requirements and appropriate revenue models, etc before suggesting action plans for developing them as smart cities.

USTDA will contribute funds for necessary feasibility studies and pilots, study tours, workshops or trainings and other projects to be mutually determined. It will invite smart solutions for smart cities reverse trade mission delegation to the US, with delegates from the three states and will fund advisory services to support the development of smart cities. It will collaborate with other US government agencies like Department of Commerce, US Export-Import Bank and other trade and economic agencies and promote greater US-India infrastructure development cooperation and to support development of smart cities.