11 Sep 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

September 11th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Infrastructure Pipeline
2. Timelines for Publicity of Criminal Antecedents
3. Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework
4. Streets for People Challenge

1. National Infrastructure Pipeline

Context:

Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, addresses investors’ meet on Infrastructure Investment Trust(s) (InvIT).

Details:

• Road development is one of the most important components of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).
  • It contributes to over a quarter of the planned expenditure.
  • The expansion of roads is expected to give a boost to the economy by reducing logistic costs, connect hinterland to hubs, and cater to rapid growth in vehicle ownership.
• The InvIT will enable the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to monetize completed national highways that have a toll collection track record of at least one year.
• The InvIT is expected to be an attractive vehicle for mobilising funds for road development.

To know more about NIP, check PIB dated 29 April 2020.

2. Timelines for Publicity of Criminal Antecedents

Context:

The Election Commission of India has released a revised timeline for the publicity of criminal antecedents by the contesting candidates and also by the political parties nominating such candidates.

Details:

• As per the revised guideline, the candidates as well as the political parties, regarding candidates nominated by them, will publish the details of criminal antecedents, if any, in newspapers and television in the following manner:
  • First publicity: Within the first 4 days of the last date of withdrawal.
  • Second publicity: Within 5^th to 8^th day of the last date of withdrawal.
  • Third publicity: From 9^th day till the last day of the campaign, i.e. two days prior to the date of poll).
• This timeline is expected to help voters in exercising their choices in a more informed manner.

Also read: Electoral reforms in India

3. Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework

Context:

The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0 was launched.

About the CSCAF:

• The objective of CSCAF is to provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions, including investments.
• In the backdrop of increasing events of cyclones, floods, droughts, etc. in the last decade, the CSCAF initiative intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has initiated the Framework to incentivize a holistic, climate responsive development in the 100 Smart Cities under the Smart Cities Mission. This is a first-of-its-kind public assessment framework on climate-relevant parameters.
• The first edition of CSCAF was launched in 2019 and 2020 is the second edition.
• The idea behind this initiative is to anchor climate actions within activities catering to urban development.
• In the first edition, 100 Smart cities were encouraged to explore the ideas of low carbon development, rapid deployment of energy-efficient technologies, and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure at the local level. The objective was to enable cities to assess their preparedness to tackle climate change and help them with a roadmap to achieve sustainable climate actions on the ground.
• The 2020 edition allows cities to learn from the previous edition and scale up their best practices.
• The current edition’s framework has 28 indicators across five categories, namely,
  • Energy and Green Buildings
  • Urban Planning, Green Cover and Biodiversity
  • Mobility and Air Quality
  • Water Management
  • Waste Management

The following image gives all the 28 indicators along with the 5 sectors:

4. Streets for People Challenge

Context:

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Streets for People Challenge.

About the Streets for People Challenge:

• The Streets for People Challenge is an initiative of the Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, to inspire cities to create walking-friendly streets through quick measures, in response to COVID-19.
• The Challenge aims to create flagship walking initiatives in cities that focus on placemaking and liveability.
• Cities will be required to reimagine their streets as public spaces through the lens of economic regeneration, safety, and child-friendly interventions, in order to ensure a green recovery from COVID-19.
• The knowledge partner of the challenge is the India Programme of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). The Fit India Mission also supports this challenge.
• Which cities can participate?
  • The Streets for People Challenge is open to all cities under the Smart Cities Mission, capital cities of States/UTs and cities with a population of over 5 lakh population.
• The Challenge requires each city to test at least one flagship walking project and enhance liveability in one neighbourhood.
• Streets and public spaces around transit hubs, heritage zones, commercial streets, market areas, recreational corridors or any high footfall zones can be considered as potential locations for the flagship project. For cities under the Smart Cities Mission, the interventions will be a pan-city initiative.

Background:

• The pandemic has highlighted the importance of urban open spaces for recreation, mental health, and to enhance the liveability of a city.
• By placing health and economic recovery at the core of their interventions, cities have reallocated streets for pedestrians, while also allowing local businesses to reopen safely.
  • In New York, the Open Streets: Restaurants programme has saved 80,000 jobs by allowing establishments to expand into sidewalks.
  • Transport for London report shows that improving streets for walking and cycling can increase retail sales by up to a staggering 30%.

Read previous PIB here.

September 11th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here