Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the two-day ‘National Mayors’ Conference’ in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The two-day event, organised by the party’s ‘sushasan (good governance) cell,’ has brought together 121 mayors and deputy mayors from BJP-ruled urban local bodies throughout the nation.
The launch event was also attended by BJP national president JP Nadda, while other participants in the two-day conference include Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.
Addressing the @BJP4India Mayors’ Conclave. https://t.co/UxEG3nmWNt
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 20, 2022
Addressing the Council of Mayors and Deputy Mayors of BJP in Gandhinagar, PM Modi stated: “This conference has a major role to play in preparing a road map of India’s urban development for the next 25 years during ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
“Our country trusts BJP. It’s the responsibility of all Mayors to work from the grassroots level. Better facilities to be provided and growth should be well-planned,” he added.
Speaking about Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, PM Modi stated: “He began his journey as a Mayor. We shall follow his path for a better India and work for its development. All Mayors must follow Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas And Sabka Prayas.”
“Collapse of old buildings and buildings catching fire in cities a major concern; this can be avoided if rules followed,” he stated.
Highlighting the growth of metro network, PM Modi said: “Till 2014, the metro network in our country was less than 250 kilometers long. Today the metro network in the country is more than 775 kilometers.”
Urbanisation Drive – Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT & Others
India has the world’s second biggest urban population, and by 2050, over half of the country’s people would be living in cities. Keeping this in mind, the administration undertook a number of programmes to support the fast growth of the country’s urban infrastructure.
The Smart Cities Mission, which was unveiled in 2016, is the government’s flagship strategy for metropolitan regions. It intends to enhance and improve people’s living standards in 100 of the country’s main cities.
The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) was designed in tandem with the Smart Communities mission and aims to revitalise 500 cities across the country.
It aims to turn sections of India into efficient urban environments with at least basic qualities such as access to safe drinking water and other amenities, open spaces such as parks, a pollution-free environment, and so on.
National Logistic Policy
The meeting with the party mayors today comes three days after the National Logistic Policy, which claims to serve all stakeholders throughout the country’s fractured logistics sector.
The logistics policy attempts to bring logistics costs in line with the industrialised countries. It also aspires to enhance the country’s rating in the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and put India into the top 25 countries.
The strategy also intends to develop a data-driven decision support system to maintain an effective logistics ecosystem.
