Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (UPSC 2020) Urban flooding in million cities, including Hyderabad and Pune, is a result of rapid urban growth outrunning planning, drainage and ecological safeguards. Even so-called smart cities remain vulnerable because technology has often been added without protecting the natural water system beneath them. - Why cities flood: concrete surfaces reduce infiltration and greatly raise runoff; natural drains, streams, lakes and wetlands are encroached upon; stormwater channels are narrowed, covered or blocked; and solid waste, silt and sewage choke the drains. - Planning failure: many urban settlements still lack updated master plans, while land use changes ignore carrying capacity, floodplains and catchment boundaries. - Outdated drainage: city drains are often designed for older rainfall patterns and are unable to cope with intense, short-duration cloudbursts now becoming more frequent due to climate change. - Lasting remedial measures: prepare basin-wide urban flood management plans instead of piecemeal ward works. - Restore and protect lakes, nalas, wetlands and floodplains; stop encroachment and desilt drains regularly. - Adopt sponge city measures such as permeable pavements, rain gardens, bioswales, urban forests and rainwater harvesting. - Upgrade stormwater drains with climate-based design standards, real-time monitoring and strong early warning systems. - Ensure strict coordination among urban local bodies, development authorities and disaster agencies, with penalties for illegal construction and waste dumping. Urban floods are not merely a rainfall problem but a governance and land-use crisis. A resilient response must combine ecological restoration, modern drainage, stricter planning discipline and community participation to make cities safer and more water-sensitive. Originally written on September 2, 2026 and last modified on September 2, 2026.
Sep 2, 2026 · via gktoday.in
Supreme Court May Be Next Step for Bellingham, WA, Responders Axed over COVID-19 Shot A group of former city of Bellingham employees who were fired for refusing to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate have filed a petition to have their case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The employees, which include EMTs, police officers, firefighters, a senior inspector and a wastewater collections supervisor, filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Bellingham and former Mayor Seth Fleetwood in June 2024 over Fleetwood’s 2021 executive order requiring city employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The lawsuit called the policy unlawful, arbitrary and a “reckless, willful and wanton disregard for plaintiffs’ rights, safety and health.” The plaintiffs alleged that the city deprived them of the option to refuse and their rights to due process, equal protection and privacy. They also claimed wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress and requested punitive damages. Bellingham refuted the allegations, challenging the notion that the COVID-19 vaccine was an “investigational drug” and outlining what the city sees as failures by the other claims to meet legal standards. The district court dismissed the case with prejudice in January 2025, and the plaintiffs filed an appeal the following month in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. On May 26, two circuit judges upheld the district court’s ruling, dismissing the case. The plaintiffs have now filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, which orders a lower court to send up the case for review. The petition, submitted Aug. 24, claims the lower courts failed to address whether the 14th Amendment precludes states and their political subdivisions from mandating the administration of “new drugs.” “The questions presented are critically important, and the stakes are high because injecting investigational drugs can cause irreparable harm,” the
Sep 2, 2026 · via firehouse.com
Taipei, TAIPEI, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of edge AI computing solutions, IPC systems, industrial motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, is showcasing its IPC and edge AI computing solutions at LEAP 2026, taking place from August 31 to September 3, 2026, at RECC Malham, Saudi Arabia. With a strong focus on product demonstrations and real-world industrial applications, BIOSTAR is presenting an extensive lineup of industrial motherboards and EdgeComp systems built for smart manufacturing, smart cities, smart retail, and other demanding industrial computing environments. Visitors can explore BIOSTAR's latest solutions at DeepFest Hall 5, Booth H5.C28. BIOSTAR at Leap BIOSTAR's industrial motherboard showcase spans eight models: the BIW88-AHS, BIH61-AHA, BIWCL-IHT, BIPTL-IHT, BITWL-IHT, BIWCL-PAT, BIRPL-PAT, and BITWL-150. Leading the lineup are two of BIOSTAR's newest platforms. The BIPTL-IHT carries an onboard Intel Panther Lake-H processor with DDR5-7200 SO-DIMM support up to 128GB, quad-display output across LVDS, dual HDMI and dual DisplayPort, six COM ports, and onboard TPM 2.0. Alongside it, the BIWCL-IHT for Mini ITX and BIWCL-PAT for 3.5” SBC are built on Intel's new Wildcat Lake processors, supporting the new Intel Core platform, DDR5-6400 memory, and dual Intel i226 2.5GbE networking. For higher-performance industrial workloads, the BIW88-AHS pairs Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors with the Intel W880 chipset, offering four DDR5-5600 U-DIMM slots with ECC support up to 192GB, quad Intel 2.5GbE, dual PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, and five additional PCIe 4.0 slots for expansion. The BIH61-AHA combines five conventional PCI slots with modern PCIe 4.0 expansion on the Intel H610 platform, supporting 12th- to 14th-Gen Intel Core processors on the LGA1700 socket. Completing the range, BIOSTAR BITWL-IHT, the Thin Mini-ITX IPC motherboard, supports Intel Alder Lake-N, Amston Lake, and Twin Lake processors with six COM ports, including two RS232/422/485 and four RS232 ports,
Sep 2, 2026 · via globenewswire.com
At a time when India and the US are negotiating the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday proposed creating dedicated plug-and-play industrial parks for US companies looking to invest in India. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also said the two countries had made “real progress”, including on the trade understanding reached by their governments, while signalling that the engagement between the two countries extended beyond trade in goods. “We have made real progress, including the trade understanding that our governments have reached. Our progress extends well beyond trade and goods. Our two nations are partnering on virtually everything under the roof,” Gor said while addressing the 66th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). Gor said the two countries were working closely to build supply-chain resilience, enabling industries in both countries to respond jointly to disruptions, diversify sourcing and keep production moving. Against this backdrop, Goyal proposed creating dedicated industrial zones tailored to the requirements of US companies. “We are now looking at 100 more industrial smart cities with plug-and-play infrastructure. Maybe we should have one of these parts dedicated to a US-India partnership. Maybe we can have two or three, five parts which will be for auto components only. I can create the plug-and-play infrastructure to suit you directly,” he said. He also suggested that specialised sections could be created for particular industries, including auto components, with infrastructure designed specifically to meet the requirements of American companies. The remarks come as India seeks to attract greater foreign investment and integrate domestic manufacturing more deeply into global supply chains. Goyal is scheduled to travel to the US later this month for G20-related meetings. Indian exporters met Commerce Ministry officials on Tuesday to flag concerns over access to the
Sep 2, 2026 · via newindianexpress.com
Energize Denver Adopts Updated Rules, Improves Supports for Buildings Published on September 02, 2026 Following an extensive, multi-year outreach effort working alongside Denver’s building owners, property managers and contractors, the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) adopted updated rules to the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy to make reducing energy use manageable, more affordable and better aligned with each building. The updated rules implement the Building Performance Policy ordinance amendments approved by City Council on May 18, 2026, and finalize the new compliance options shaped and requested by stakeholders over the multi-year refinement of the policy. The updated rules include: - Timing Changes: Providing clarity and flexibility around compliance deadlines - Planning Improvements: Clarifying compliance pathways and options for flexibility for buildings with unique circumstances, - Alternate Compliance Options: Codifying manageable and achievable compliance options requested by the building community - Enforcement Clarity: Providing transparency and certainty around enforcement options and processes With the updated rules in place, Denver created options in the Building Performance Policy to help buildings put compliance within reach – from adjusting energy efficiency targets and compliance deadlines to developing customized plans for phased improvements. CASR remains committed to supporting building owners to find a path to compliance that makes sense for their building, including more targeted resources that help them navigate the compliance process, a help desk that will assist with developing an improvement plan and web resources to help find financial support. For the full, updated rules effective August 27, 2026, visit the Energize Denver Building Performance Policy Rules and Technical Guidance page. To help buildings manage and achieve compliance with the city’s Building Performance Policy, CASR has also launched a new, streamlined Energize Denver Navigation Center – energizedenver.org – where service providers, building owners and building managers can access tools, resources
Sep 2, 2026 · via denvergov.org
FDNY Pushing Feds to Add Cardiac, Cognitive Decline to List of 9/11 Illnesses NEW YORK — As firefighters and EMS members who responded to 9/11 get older, the FDNY is pushing for the federal government to add cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and other ailments to the list of covered 9/11 illnesses that could help survivors in the future. Studies by the FDNY WTC Health Program show that a higher percentage of FDNY members exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero are suffering from these diseases than the average population, FDNY WTC Health Program director Dr. David Prezant said at a press conference at FDNY headquarters in downtown Brooklyn Tuesday. “These diseases have increased over and above what you would expect in aging,” he said. “It is a very high bar the federal government requires for us to leap over to prove that these illnesses are World Trade Center-related.” The average age of those in the program today stands at 64, when the body’s health defenses are less resilient than they were in one’s 30s, he said. Studies on cardiovascular disease among the FDNY’s 9/11 survivors showed a “significant association between WTC exposure and cardiovascular risk,” according to a report that the FDNY WTC Health Program put out Tuesday. An updated report from the program is issued every five years. “Those who arrived at the WTC site on the morning of 9/11 had about a 38% greater risk of developing a primary cardiovascular event compared with those who arrived later,” the report noted. Yet cardiovascular disease is also America’s leading cause of death. The federal government declined the petition to add it to the list of WTC-related illnesses “just a few weeks ago,” Prezant said. “We’re going to keep trying,” he added. “Despite this, this workforce is struggling to get past
Sep 2, 2026 · via firehouse.com
Today’s Headlines for Wednesday, September 2
9:22 AM CDT on September 2, 2026
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John has written about transportation and more for many other local and national publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city and region on foot, bike, bus, and train.
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Sep 2, 2026 · via chi.streetsblog.org
Dive Brief: - Washington, D.C., is adding to its waste diversion infrastructure this fall by installing another 20 public “smart bins” for collecting food waste. There are already 31 bins throughout the city. - Residents have dropped off more than 1 million pounds of food waste in the lockable public bins since the program launched in 2024, according to D.C.’s Department of Public Works. The program complements other composting efforts in the city, such as curbside collection for some homes and drop-off locations at area farmers markets. - The aim with the sealed smart bins is to offer more composting options for residents living in multifamily housing. Dive Insight: The bin program expansion is part of a broader zero waste goal to divert 80% of the city’s waste away from landfills and incineration by 2040. Multifamily housing makes up the majority of living space in D.C., and DPW has been working to tailor composting solutions for apartment-dwellers in recent years to amplify those zero waste efforts. D.C. already requires certain apartment building managers to provide adequate waste and recycling services to tenants. But residents who want to compost typically must take their food waste to a farmers market or purchase their own countertop composter if they don’t have easy access to a smart bin. Users can find a nearby bin using an interactive map and unlock the lid using a key code, making the service available 24 hours a day, said John Johnson, program manager for D.C.’s Office of Waste Diversion. But residents are more likely to use the bin if it’s close to their home, “so the goal is to make sure that we have equitable distribution throughout the city,” he said. The existing bins have become quite popular in the last 18 months, with about 10,000 residents signing
Sep 2, 2026 · via wastedive.com
Find the best mobile app development companies in Saudi Arabia in 2026. Compare leading firms for AI-powered, secure, scalable, and user-focused apps. Saudi Arabia has become one of the Middle East's fastest-growing technology markets, driven by Vision 2030, expanding digital transformation initiatives, smart-city programs, and growing investment in artificial intelligence. Businesses across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and other cities are increasingly using mobile applications to improve customer experiences, automate operations, launch digital services, and create new revenue channels. From fintech and healthcare to logistics, eCommerce, real estate, tourism, and government services, mobile applications are becoming an important part of Saudi Arabia's digital economy. Businesses now require more than basic iOS or Android development—they need secure, scalable, AI-powered, cloud-connected, and user-focused digital products. Choosing the right technology partner can therefore have a significant impact on a project's performance and long-term scalability. To help businesses compare their options, we have compiled a list of the top 10 mobile app development companies in Saudi Arabia for 2026, considering mobile engineering capabilities, AI expertise, enterprise experience, innovation, market presence, and ability to deliver scalable digital products. 1. Apptunix Saudi Arabia Apptunix Saudi Arabia With a strong understanding of Saudi Arabia's digital ecosystem and Vision 2030 objectives, Apptunix develops Arabic-first and bilingual Arabic-English mobile applications designed around local users and business requirements. Its expertise extends across AI agents, intelligent automation, cloud architecture, IoT, enterprise platforms, and modern mobile experiences. From product strategy and UI/UX design to development, API integration, deployment, and long-term scaling, Apptunix provides end-to-end technology capabilities for businesses building next-generation mobile products in Saudi Arabia. 2. Elm Elm is a Saudi technology company providing digital solutions and services across government and business sectors. Its capabilities include digital platforms, data solutions, smart technologies, enterprise systems, and digital transformation. The company's experience with large-scale digital initiatives
Sep 2, 2026 · via whatech.com
As part of its strategy to address rising rents and a shortfall of more than 50,000 affordable housing units, Cleveland is kickstarting development using a public-private partnership model. The Cleveland Housing Investment Fund launched last year with a goal of raising $100 million to spur the construction of 2,500 to 3,000 new housing units. The fund focuses on financing the construction of rental housing for residents with low to moderate incomes, with an emphasis on those earning less than 80% of the area median income, or around $55,000 a year. The program also plans to develop a minimum of 100 units of for-sale housing, as well as neighborhood-scale rehabilitation projects. Average loans or investments per project are expected to be around $1 million to $5 million. The fund has raised $53 million so far, with 216 new housing units in the works, Mayor Justin Bibb said on social media last week. The program got off the ground with $18 million in seed money from the city, which used surplus American Rescue Plan Act funding for the initiative. The initiative has received a $20 million commitment from KeyBank, $10 million from Huntington Bank and $5 million from Fifth Third Bank. The fund is managed by LISC Fund Management, an affiliate of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national community development nonprofit organization, and was based on a similar model in Detroit. “As any mayor will tell you, we love stealing each other’s ideas,” Bibb said at a press event last week. “I was just so proud of the work that LISC did in Detroit with their housing opportunity fund that I jumped at the opportunity to make sure that we brought that public-private partnership model to Cleveland.” Earlier this year, the fund allocated nearly $6 million toward a 60-unit affordable housing project
Sep 2, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Imagine overhearing on a bus that the city council plans to implement new restrictions under an urban planning program called “15-minute cities”. Curious, you search the term on Google. It’s likely that at the top of the results page, an AI-generated text summarising the search results will appear. This text synthesises content from various webpages that answer specific search queries. They are increasingly appearing not only in Google, but also in other search engines, and users are now likely to stop reading the search results page beyond this AI-generated text. But what if the AI-generated answer – the only search result users may see – confidently makes misleading or incorrect claims? Or reinforces conspiratorial ideas suggested by pro-conspiracy search terms? Our new research, published in the journal Media International Australia, shows this is sometimes true of Google’s AI-generated overviews. It highlights that stronger guardrails are needed to tackle the spread of dangerous conspiracy theories. Focusing on two conspiracies We focused on two conspiracy theories: chemtrails and 15-minute cities. “Chemtrails” is a conspiracy theory that has been around since the 1990s. Its believers mainly perceive the condensation trails left behind aircraft as large-scale weather or climate modification programs. Researchers called out Google for giving visibility to conspiratorial beliefs around chemtrails back in 2015. In response, the company demoted problematic search results. Conspiracy theories surrounding 15-minute cities are relatively younger. The term was originally coined to represent an efficient urban planning model. But for the conspiracist, these plans represent a nefarious elite, globalist agenda that seeks to monitor and control residents through technology. Comparing search results We developed search queries reflecting these conspiratorial beliefs and general ways of searching on the same topics (relying on open fora and Google Trends for query examples). We then collected data from the first page of
Sep 2, 2026 · via theconversation.com
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Sep 1, 2026 · via youtube.com
New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) India’s decade‑long push to modernise urban infrastructure through the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) transformed the country's urban future by shifting policy emphasis from standalone construction to integrated infrastructure, a report has said. The programme also shifted urban policy focus to technology‑enabled governance and water security and better quality of life, the report from Vietnam Times said. “India's urban transformation is now entering a new policy phase in which governance itself has become a central part of the development agenda,” the publication said. Launched in 2015, the Smart Cities Mission selected 100 cities for targeted development using a combination of area‑based and pan‑city projects. By May 2025, 7,555 of 8,067 planned projects under the mission were complete, the report said, with a total investment of about $183 billion. Another 512 projects worth about $1.45 billion were in advanced stages and by March 31, 2025, nearly all central government budgeted funds were released to the cities. The report highlighted the significance of the program in the range of urban functions they cover. “Smart roads, public spaces, cycle tracks, health facilities, classrooms, water systems and technology-enabled public services have become part of the mission's urban transformation framework,” it noted. As per government data, 3,528 water-supply projects worth about $13.3 billion had been approved under AMRUT 2.0 as of February 2026. Marking a major institutional innovation, all 100 Smart Cities have operational Integrated Command and Control Centres, which use technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things systems and data analytics to support urban management. These centres have been used for traffic regulation, water supply monitoring, solid waste management, public safety, crowd management and emergency response. The government's “Jal Hi AMRIT” initiative under AMRUT 2.0 aims to improve the quality and
Sep 1, 2026 · via ianslive.in
All financial information is in Canadian dollars. GFL Environmental closed its acquisition of Secure Waste Infrastructure on Tuesday, the company announced. The deal significantly expands GFL's presence in western Canada through Secure's energy and production waste assets. Allen Gransch, CEO of Secure, and other members of the company's management team will stay on post acquisition. Secure will be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange by the close of business on Sept. 2. "The acquisition of [Secure] reinforces our goal of creating long-term equity value for our shareholders and is expected to significantly accelerate the achievement of the multi-year financial targets we outlined at our investor day in early 2025," GFL CEO Patrick Dovigi said in a statement. Those targets include potential 2028 adjusted earnings before income, taxes, depreciation and amortization north of $3 billion. The deal valued Secure at roughly $6.4 billion. GFL financed 80% of the acquisition through stock compensation and 20% through cash. It announced on Tuesday that it used a new $1 billion (U.S.) senior secured term loan in the deal. GFL executives have said the deal is not expected to raise the company's net leverage ratio, as Secure has additional free cash flow and lower debt that will have a positive effect on GFL's balance sheet. GFL is still targeting a net leverage ratio "in the mid 3s" for the end of the year, per Tuesday's release. Calgary-based Secure has more than 2,000 employees and an asset portfolio that includes 55 liquid waste facilities, 10 metals recycling facilities and a portfolio of more than a dozen landfills. Assets are largely concentrated in Western Canada, with some in North Dakota. Through the first half of the year, the company reported revenue of $805 million, up 10% year over year. That was fueled in part by growth in
Sep 1, 2026 · via wastedive.com
States push back on EEOC plan to end workforce demographic reporting A group of eight state and local civil rights agencies is urging the federal government to preserve longstanding workforce demographic reporting requirements, arguing that eliminating the data could make it harder to identify and investigate employment discrimination. Agencies from Illinois, Oregon, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia co-authored an Aug. 24 letter opposing the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s proposed rescission of federal workforce reporting requirements, including the EEO-1 report. For sixty years, EEO workforce data has given federal, state and local agencies, employers, and policymakers information about workforce representation by race, sex, job category and other characteristics. The agencies said the data does not identify individual employees but provides a baseline for examining disparities across industries, occupations and regions. “Since 1966, these collections have been a cornerstone of federal civil rights enforcement,” the group wrote, arguing that eliminating federal workforce data collection would not remove the need for the information. “Workforce discrimination unfortunately exists regardless of whether this data is reported,” the letter continues. “Ending this collection will only obscure disparities in, reduce transparency, and make it harder to identify discrimination, which hurts everyone.” The joint opposition comes as the EEOC also considers ending the reporting requirement for private employers. The commission voted in July to advance a proposal that would eliminate the longstanding demographic data collection, arguing that the reports carry a heavy compliance burden — estimated at over $273 million annually — have minimal enforcement value and may inadvertently encourage race-conscious or discriminatory employment practices. “The proposed rescission of the EEO Data Reports reaffirms the founding principle that every individual is created equal and therefore is entitled to equal treatment under the law,” EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in a
Sep 1, 2026 · via statescoop.com
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Sep 1, 2026 · via youtube.com
Smart Trips Challenge Is Here: Try a New Way to Get Around This September | Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) | City of Madison, WI Smart Trips Challenge Is Here: Try a New Way to Get Around This September Smart Trips Challenge Is Here: Try a New Way to Get Around This September posted September 1, 2026 – 11:34am As students head back to school and fall routines begin, RoundTrip Greater Madison is challenging people across Dane County to swap trips they would normally drive alone for more affordable, sustainable options like biking, taking the bus, carpooling, and walking or rolling. The fourth annual Smart Trips Challenge runs September 1–30. It's free and open to anyone 18 or older who lives or works in Dane County. The challenge encourages people to consider different ways to get around for everyday trips—whether that means taking the bus to work, biking to meet friends, carpooling to class, or walking to run an errand. Participants can log those trips throughout September for chances to win more than 20 weekly and grand prizes. There are a few new things this year that we're really excited about. Our RoundTrip Greater Madison app is now live, making it easy for people across Dane County to log their trips and find transportation options that work for them. And for the first time, participants can create teams with friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers, so they can take on the challenge together. — Zia Brucaya, RoundTrip Program Manager Participants who log at least four round trips in a week will automatically be entered into that week's prize drawings. Those who log at least 16 round trips during September will also be entered into the grand prize drawings. Replacing drive-alone trips can help people save money on gas and parking,
Sep 1, 2026 · via cityofmadison.com
Relaxing Residency Rule for Fire and Police Chiefs in Aurora, IL, Discussed The Aurora City Council has delayed deciding whether to loosen residency requirements for the city’s police and fire chiefs. The delay comes as the Aurora Fire Department continues to operate with an interim fire chief after former chief David McCabe retired in November 2025, and an attempt to appoint a new chief in April was put off. Police and fire chiefs are currently required to live in Aurora or move to the city within a year of taking on the job. The proposed ordinance would allow Aurora’s police and fire chiefs to live in any municipality within 15 miles of Aurora. Aurora Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, who is behind the proposed ordinance, said the measure could help fill the fire chief vacancy by removing some barriers. The ordinance was set for a final City Council vote last week. “This way, we can get the best and the brightest candidates, even if they don’t live in the city because they could have good reasons why they don’t live here for all that time,” Franco said. But Ald. Ted Mesiacos, 3rd Ward, asked Aug. 25 for the measure to be moved back to the City Council Rules, Administration and Procedure committee for further review. The proposed residency requirement ordinance now sits with that committee, which is set to meet at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Aurora City Hall. Aurora Mayor John Laesch said the proposed ordinance “makes zero sense” to him and that City Council members still care about having some residency requirements for the city’s public safety officials due to the nature of the job. “Public safety was the area where we needed to have some level of residency,” he said. Laesch said he is in no rush to
Sep 1, 2026 · via firehouse.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 53rd meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, at Seva Teerth on Wednesday. During the meeting he reviewed six key infrastructure projects across the railway, road and power sectors spanning nine states with a cumulative cost of more than Rs 300 billion (Rs 300 bn). The projects were identified as significant for strengthening connectivity, supporting industrial and economic activity and improving public services. The review emphasised adherence to timelines and inter-agency coordination. He emphasised that delays result in cost escalation and postpone benefits for citizens, businesses and the economy. Ministries and states were asked to adopt an end-to-end approach to address critical gaps that could delay commissioning and delivery so that progress in individual packages translates into timely completion and operationalisation of entire projects. He called for fostering a proactive work culture with greater ownership at every level of implementation. He urged exploration of common utility corridors for infrastructure services where feasible and asked Ministries and states to examine such integrated approaches at the planning stage keeping technical and economic feasibility in view. Speed of execution must be accompanied by uncompromising quality, and implementing agencies were urged to adopt modern technologies and strengthen quality assurance at every stage. While reviewing AgriStack under the Digital Agriculture Mission he emphasised leveraging digital technologies including artificial intelligence to derive greater value from agricultural data. During a review of cyber fraud cases he said prevention must be strengthened through sustained training, awareness and education, with targeted public-awareness campaigns for senior citizens, youth and other vulnerable sections to familiarise them with common fraud techniques and safe digital practices. He called for regular capacity-building of personnel so that emerging modes of cyber fraud are identified and acted upon swiftly. He appreciated efforts by states
Sep 1, 2026 · via constructionworld.in
Dive Brief: - Local governments have among the “freshest” digital signage content of any sector, updating their digital signage a median of every 7.5 days, according to a State of Digital Signage 2026 report by Kitcast, a digital signage software provider. - Across 21 industries measured in the report, digital signage is updated a median of every 16.8 days. Governments were behind only the hospitality and nonprofit sectors, which updated signage a median of every 3.9 days and 7.3 days, respectively. - A majority of the content governments display on digital signs includes weather, shown on 88% of screens, and information dashboards, which are displayed on 72% of government screens. “The opportunity for cities and counties now is to use more interactive, service-focused content, like wayfinding and wait times,” Kitcast spokesperson and report author Pavlo Fedykovych told Smart Cities Dive in an email. Dive Insight: There are roughly 100 million connected digital signage displays in use worldwide, and that number is expected to close in on 150 million by 2028, according to Kitcast. While the technology is billed as a way to keep content updated regularly, the report found more than 27% of digital signage content is more than a year old. While more regularly updated digital signage in local governments compared with other public institutions is a “good sign,” according to Fedykovych, 28% of government digital signage is still recycled content and more than a year old. The education sector had the slowest rate of updating digital signage with a median of every 49.3 days, followed by the healthcare industry with 43.1 days and technology with 29.9. Governments recorded a higher number of screens per workspace compared with other sectors, with an average of five screens per workplace compared with the overall average of four screens, per Kitcast’s findings,
Sep 1, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com