NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, and Bentley Systems, Inc., announced that the project designed by the student team from Amity International School-Saket won top honors in the Future Cities India 2020 design competition. The competition which was launched in 2006 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Bentley Systems is a partnership among government, universities, and the business community to promote and inspire young students to consider careers in the infrastructure design and engineering professions.
Future Cities India 2020 actively engages students from the Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) schools to develop solutions to real-world infrastructure challenges and issues. It encourages students to use their design skills, along with Bentley software, to help prepare India’s cities for the year 2020, when it is estimated that more than 50 percent of its citizens will live in the country’s largest cities. This year’s projects focused on the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in central north Delhi. Each of the 15 student teams submitted 3D conceptual design models and presented ideas for a redeveloped Chandni Chowk district. Dr. R. Siva Kumar, CEO of National Spatial Data Infrastructure said that the, “rich history of Chandni Chowk, a once-vibrant-and-grand market, was the impetus for these highly imaginative projects. The goal was to recapture that vibrancy, creating enhanced infrastructure for the district that can better accommodate the city’s rapidly growing population. These projects express a unique vision for an environmentally and user-friendly market area.”
Scott Lofgren, Bentley’s global director, congratulated the winners saying that, “The ultimate purpose of Future Cities India 2020 is, of course, to inspire India’s youth to choose an educational path that leads to a career in one of the architectural, engineering, and construction disciplines. Given the imagination and dedication shown by this year’s competitors, I am confident that each of them has what it takes to become a highly productive and respected member of India’s infrastructure community.”
The winners were awarded scholarships and trophies, and the teachers and technical professionals who served as counselors and mentors also received awards and recognition. Members of the winning team included Shruti Sahrawat, Neha Ahooja, Agrim Singh, and Arjun Hans. Second place honors in the competition went to Manava Bharati India International School.
The Future Cities India 2020 competition consisted of 15 student teams representing 14 high schools. Teachers and industry mentors guided each team in designing a plan to rehabilitate and improve the Chandni Chowk district. Using Bentley software, students created 3D conceptual design models of a revitalized district able to accommodate Delhi’s growing population, while bearing in mind concerns related to the surrounding infrastructure and all environmental sustainability issues. A distinguished panel of experts from India’s infrastructure community judged the students’ presentations based on their success in meeting the following criteria:
- Using the existing land and infrastructure to the best advantage;
- Proposing a congestion-free transportation plan for Chandni Chowk, and;
- Integrating the principles of environmentally sustainable designs.
The Department of Science & Technology opened the 2009-2010 Future Cities India 2020 design competition to all 11th-grade standard school students from Delhi and the NCR. Bentley, through its Be Careers Network program, provided software products to the students and trained them, with the assistance of the industry mentors, in their use.
For more information about Future Cities India, visit www.futurecitiesindia2020.co.in.
