India and U.S. agree landmark triple smart city deal

India and the United States and have signed an agreement to develop three smart cities in Allahabad, Ajmer, and Visakhapatnam as part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious sustainable development plans.

The two countries signed three Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) on Sunday to give a boost to India’s ‘smart cities’ scheme.

The three MoUs were signed by the representatives of United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the respective Chief Secretaries of State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu.

The U.S. will assist the cities at various stages including project planning, infrastructure development, feasibility studies and capacity building.

The State Governments will provide technical information and data related to smart cities planning; staff, logistical and travel support and budgetary resources.

The USTDA will collaborate with other U.S. government agencies like the Department of Commerce, US Export-Import Bank and other trade and economic bodies to promote US-India cooperation and to support the development of the smart city projects.

The USTDA will enable U.S. industry organisations to mobilise private sector expertise and resources to address key energy-related infrastructure issues.

The MoUs refer to the U.S.-India Joint Statement of September 2014 related to the first bilateral meeting between President Barack Obama and Modi when the U.S. welcomed India's offer for U.S. industry to be the lead partner in developing the three smart cities.

Modi’s administration has announced plans to develop 100 smart cities across India.