The Indian government has formally approved a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies for its 100 “smart cities” initiative. India’s Economic Times reports that the Urban Development Ministry and a cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared the pact.
The “memorandum of understanding” builds on a June 2015 announcement that the philanthropy headed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would design and manage a “Cities Challenge.”
Under the competition — a first for India — cities would vie to receive strategic and technical guidance on infrastructure projects, along with government funding.
Bloomberg Philanthropies notes here that Modi’s administration is devoting US$7.5 billion to upgrading the nation’s cities.
The philanthropy already runs the Mayors Challenge, a contest in which cities compete for funding to support initiatives that improve urban life. The Indian competition would be held three times over three years. More details are available here.
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