Navin Rai, chief town planner-cum-nodal officer of Namchi Smart City, has been recognised as part of an international urban planning initiative led by LSE Cities, the research centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, a press release said. The recognition comes after Rai’s participation in an LSE-led study that reviewed strategic options for Shillong’s planned urban expansion, and it highlights Namchi’s smart-city practices as a model for sustainable, citizen-focused development.
The LSE Cities project examined Shillong’s proposed growth from a city built for roughly 300,000 residents to a projected population of 700,000 by 2041. The expansion strategy under review envisions two new urban hubs about 10 km and 20 km from the existing city centre to accommodate growth while aiming to protect cultural and environmental assets.
LSE Cities was invited to help local authorities create an urban framework that supports rapid population increase without sacrificing heritage or ecology. The study identified major challenges in transport, housing, water management, green infrastructure and public mobility, and stressed the need for a coherent, enforceable urban vision to guide development.
As part of the programme, 22 senior officials from Shillong spent four days in London and were exposed to international case studies from cities including Curitiba, Wuhan, Paris, Nairobi, London and Namchi. The inclusion of Namchi alongside these global examples, the release said, reflects growing recognition of Sikkim’s smart city governance and sustainable planning model.
Rai told the organisers that he participated in the LSE study last year, adding that Namchi’s good practices were selected as a useful case for reviewing Shillong’s expansion plan. The press release described the recognition as “a proud milestone for Sikkim” and said it underlines Namchi Smart City’s emergence as a model of smart, sustainable and citizen-centric urban development, reflecting a vision of progressive urban governance in the state.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/namchis-smart-planning-practices-earn-global-spotlight
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