New Delhi (PTI): With just 0.3 per cent difference separating them and their competitors, a team of four students from Apeejay School, Noida topped the "Future Cities India 2020" competition organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

"I am really thrilled and it will take some time for me to come out of the thrill. We hoped for the best, prepared for the worst and now we have won. It's a dream come true," said E R Subramanian, a member of the winning team.

Around 14 schools from the National Capital Region (NCR) participated in the second "Future Cities India 2020" competition aimed at encouraging students to use their design skills, along with Bentley's software to help prepare the country's cities for 2020.

Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal gave away the prize money of Rs 1 lakh and books to the students at the award ceremony here on Saturday.

The challenge for the young minds was to conceptualise a plan for the post-Commonwealth Games redevelopment of the international zone.

The "Model City", designed by the team, was divided into four different zones such as health complex, sports complex, stimulation centre, education zone and transportation mall.

"We divided it into four zones and the emphasis was given to stimulation centre - a technology for the future in which we can stimulate artificial environment," Subramanian said.

DAV public school, Gurgaon team got the second prize, while Team II of Apeejay School, Saket bagged the best essay award. Team I of Ramjas School got the award for best software model, while Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai bagged the best physical model award.