Chandigarh: Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, CEO Chandigarh Smart City Ltd. received India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2020 in the Best UT from Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs(MoHUA), Govt. of India a function Smart City Award Ceremony today at Surat.

The India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2020 was organized under the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for the period from 25th August 2020 till 24th Feb 2021. This was one of the important activities initiated under the Mission, where pioneering city strategies, projects and ideas have been recognized based on innovation, impact and replicability/scalability.

The ISAC 2020 recognizes and have rewarded the cities, projects and innovative ideas that are promoting sustainable development in urban areas in India, as well as stimulating inclusive, equitable, safe, healthy and collaborative cities, thus enhancing quality of life for all.

The following were the awards categories:

1. Project Awards
2. City Leadership Award
3. Best State/UT Award
4. Innovation Award
5. COVID Innovation Award
6. City Award

Timeline of the Awards

Chandigarh has participated in the competition and has won the award for Culture category for its Capitol Complex project which is a heritage site declared by UNESCO.

Capitol Complex is the first large scale Restoration Project for Modern Heritage (spread over 100 acres) and as part of the solution to the many issues one of the innovative techniques were used to increase the life of buildings different State Governments were involved, coordination was done at highest level. Apart from this, detailed Heritage restoration plan was prepared and integrated with tourism promotion plan.

The Best UT Award was given to Chandigarh on basis of its performance in India Cycles4Change Challenge, ClimateSmart Cities Challenge, Streets4People Challenge, TULIP and DataSmart Cities.