'smart cities' as satellite towns

New Town has bagged the second place in the 'Mobility' category for promoting non-motorised transport in the 'India Smart Cities Award Contest 2022' organised by the ministry of housing and urban affairs. The township also came third in the 'Built environment' category for landscape redevelopment of Neem Banani and other green open spaces.

Till a few months ago, some were farmers, some pest control experts and some security guards tasked with keeping note of visitors entering and leaving housing complexes. But a spike in snake sightings and snakebites in New Town has prompted many of them to change profession and turn snake catchers. They are now in great demand in the smart city with apartment complexes putting them on their payrolls.

Cochin Smart Mission Limited (CSML) develops cycle lanes in Kochi to promote clean and healthy transport. However, most of the lanes have turned into unofficial parking lots and lack proper maintenance. The condition of some lanes poses a threat to cyclists. The authorities were unaware of the situation and admit that action needs to be taken against vehicles parked on the lanes. Cyclists and town planning experts call for stringent laws and greater awareness of the importance of cycling lanes and footpaths.

When the New Town Planning Area was declared 24 years ago, envisioning the development of an ecofriendly city, the 93. 9-sq-km area was a clean slate, literally.

The state government appears to be considering the possibility of extending the Namma Metro train to the four satellite towns on the outskirts of Bengaluru, which include Dodballapura, Nelmangala, Devanahalli, and Hosakote.

With the state government focusing on urbanization and development of urban facilities, which is also among the key areas under the G20 umbrella, 124 town planning (TP) schemes have been approved while 281 development works worth Rs 8,963 crore have been completed in the cities and towns.

New Town has recently bagged awards in three categories of the Smart Cities India Awards 2023 supported by the ministry of housing and urban affairs and Centre's smart cities mission. Now, the New Town Green Smart City Corporation (NKGSCC) is planning to promote solar and renewable energy in the township.

The first section of the Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR) in Bengaluru, connecting Doddaballapur bypass and Hoskote, will open for traffic and toll collection on Friday. The 34-km stretch is part of the 80-km-long Dabaspet-Devanahalli-Hoskote route. The completion of the entire 80-km stretch is expected by February 2024 and will significantly reduce heavy vehicle traffic entering Bengaluru, particularly on Tumakuru Road. The project was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and heavy rainfall, but construction has been expedited to open the entire stretch to motorists.

During discussions on urbanization and infrastructure at the recent Chintan Shibir, experts recommended developing satellite towns around large cities to manage urbanization in the state.

India's women's cricket team achieved a historic win over Australia in their first Test victory after 47 years. The team's geographical base has changed significantly, with players now hailing from small towns like Moga, Rohtak, Siliguri, Shahdol, and Sangli. The rise of talent from India's interiors is evident in players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Jemimah Rodrigues. The reach of women's cricket has expanded across the country, with players coming from Agra, Dehradun, Shimla, and Agra. The Women's Premier League is expected to further boost the growth and popularity of the sport.

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh aims to set a world record by installing the longest line of solar-powered street lights in Ayodhya. Currently held by Malham, Saudi Arabia, the record will be broken with the installation of 470 solar lights covering a 10.2km stretch. The government plans to approach the Guinness World Records for inspection. UPNEDA is responsible for the installation, which aims to increase the use of renewable and green energy resources in Ayodhya.