Diu Smart City does a first in India

The Diu Smart City has become the first city in India that runs on 100 per cent renewable energy during the daytime, setting a bench-mark for other cities to follow, an official release said today. Diu had been importing 73 per cent of its power from Gujarat till last year, it added.  The city has developed a 9-MW solar park spread over 50 hectares rocky barren land, besides installing solar panels on the rooftops on 79 government buildings, generating 1.3 MW annually, the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry's release said. 

Diu also offers its residents a subsidy of Rs 10, 000-50,000 for installing 1-5 -KW rooftop solar panels. 

The city is saving about 13,000 tonnes of carbon emissions every year and due to low-cost solar energy, power tariffs have been cut in residential category by 10 per cent last year and 15 per cent this year, the release said.

On other smart cities, the release said Bengaluru Smart City is working on implementation of solution to improve traffic management, while Jaipur Smart City Ltd (JSCL) has planned to develop night bazaar at Chaura Rasta, in the heart of Pink city.

The JSCL would register up to 700 vendors who will be allowed to set up stalls, including eateries, between 9 pm and 1 am, it said, adding the project will provide entertainment, culture and shopping to citizens after office hours.