The Hindu : New Delhi News : For a brand new Chandni Chowk

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Thursday, Aug 27, 2009
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New Delhi

For a brand new Chandni Chowk

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Union Science and Technology Department in association with Bentley Systems launched the fourth edition of “Future Cities India-2020 Competition” at American Center here on Wednesday.

Children from 15 schools from in and around Delhi will design and conceptualise “Re-development of Chandni Chowk”. The competition has been designed for high school students and focuses on use of science and technology to solve real world challenges, incorporating real world data, using globally-recognised professional software.

Addressing the students here, U.S. Embassy Counsellor for Cultural Affairs Michael Macy said the challenge before students was how to design the bustling Chandni Chowk as a liveable, accessible and environmentally sound place.

Bentley Systems vice-president and territory executive Christopher Liew said 70 per cent of the India’s GDP was contributed by its cities, creating mounting demands for infrastructure improvements.

“These demands will only increase as more people are attracted to these hubs of economic activity. Less than 30 per cent of over one billion people in the country live in urban areas. By 2020, Indian cities will be home to 75 per cent of its citizens and a relatively small number of mega cities will absorb the bulk of its population boom. To keep these mega cities efficient, places in which people can comfortably live and work, major infrastructure improvements will be needed including modern housing, office buildings and industrial plants.”

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