The project designed by students of Apeejay School, Noida won top honors in the 2007-2008 Future Cities India 2020 competition. The programme, 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. It encourages students to use their design skills, along with Bentley’s software for the world’s infrastructure, to help prepare India’s cities for the year 2020 as it is estimated that more than 50 percent of India’s citizens will live in the country’s largest cities. All submissions provided a plan for the future redevelopment of the Commonwealth Games 2010 international zone, which will consist of temporary structures – everything from media centers, entertainment facilities, and practice grounds to a commercial center and transportation system – that will be dismantled at the conclusion of the Games. Second place honors went to DAV Public School, Gurgaon.

Shri. Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister for Science & Technology & Earth Sciences, gave away the awards in a ceremony in New Delhi today. Addressing the gathering, Shri Sibal said that it is for the second straight year that students have been made aware of the enormous infrastructure challenges facing this country. Lauding the efforts of both the organizers as well as the participants , he said that the programme also planted the engineering seed in the minds of the youth with the hope that they will one day determine the infrastructure future of this great nation. Terming the Chandni Chowk as one of the most unique living heritage sites, the Minister expressed concern over the fact that it is rapidly losing its unique character. He urged upon Bentley Systems and the DST to organize a competition to develop the historic stretch from Fatehpur to Lal Quila with inputs from modern science and technology into a truly world-class heritage site that the nation could feel proud of in the years to come.

Later on interacting with the media the Minister shared his vision to make this a national event open to high schools and colleges across the country so as to sensitize a much larger section of the student community to issues of development in the country where they can make a meaningful contribution too.

Shri. Bhupinder Singh, senior vice president, Bentley Software, said his company shared the ministry’s enthusiasm for the programme and appreciated the incredible maturity, talent, and vision the students displayed in this year’s competition.

Commenting on Apeejay School, Noida’s win, and their experience during the 5 month long competition, Team Leader Ajaypat Jain said, “Future Cities India 2020 gave us an opportunity to serve our country in a special way – and it was an opportunity we did not take lightly. We are truly fortunate to be part of this initiative as it has given us practical experience for our future endeavors.

The Future Cities India 2020 competition consisted of 14 teams representing 10 high schools. Teachers and industry mentors guided each team in designing a redevelopment plan for the post Commonwealth Games international zone. Using Bentley software, students designed an innovative functional use for the site, while keeping in mind the concerns of the neighboring residential community and all environmental issues. Distinguished experts from the infrastructure community judged the project presentations based on five criteria: project design solution report, computer model, expenditure summary report, physical model and team presentation.

The Ministry of Science & Technology opened the 2007-2008 Future Cities India 2020 design competition to all 11th grade standard school students from Delhi and the National Capital Region. Bentley, through its BE Careers programme, provided software products and solutions to the students and trained them, along with their mentors, in their use.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : January 19, 2008