Government plans flagship-scheme events in poll-bound states

In a change of tack and to make the point that there is real progress on its flagship schemes, the urban affairs ministry will hold two big events - Swachhta rankings of cities and third anniversary of Smart City programme - in Indore and Jaipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend both the events to be held in the poll-bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Till now these events were held in Delhi amid high media presence. While the two states going for polls later this year could be one reason for holding the events their, sources said another major objective is to showcase achievements on the ground of these ambitious programmes. In the past, the lack of progress as seen in Delhi and other mega cities has attracted criticism when the government held such events in the national capital.

Government officials admit that the progress of urban schemes is more visible in small cities as compared to big ones, which are like “cities within a city”. They said holding events in cities where significant milestones have been achieved will convince the people and help government to get more traction.


Indore has retained the position of the cleanest city for the past two years. Housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri has publicly said how a Japanese minister during his recent visit to Indore had shared that “he was searching for dirt” on the city’s road.

According to the plan, while the award ceremony of Swachh cities will be held in Indore on June 23, Jaipur will host the two-day conclave on smart cities on July 6 and 7, which will be attended by all the 99 mayors and CEOs of the cities selected under Smart City Mission.