Smart cities should not be seen as a fancy concept:PM Narendra Modi

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Smart Cities should not be seen as a fancy concept since the mission is meant for ensuring availability of all basic services to the people though necessary infrastructure including houses for urban poor in a comprehensive manner.

He referred to extensive use of digital technology in the smart city plans for improving the quality of governance and public services. He also said that since urbanisation mitigates poverty, it should be seen as an opportunity instead of a problem.

Modi stressed that if people were empowered and involved in participatory development, the country would develop fast.

Noting that an era of competition among cities and towns has come to prevail, he urged the citizens to rise to the challenge for improvement of respective urban areas.

Referring to the changing attitudes, Modi said that gone were the days when the central government was looked as a giver of funds, it was now being looked at as a source of ideas.