Panaji has been selected as one of the top 18 cities among the 100 Smart Cities in the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0 challenge. Panaji has been selected under the project – ‘Amchi Swachh Panaji – ensuring zero landfill for a thriving Panaji’ that promotes a citizen-centric and decentralised model of waste management. “Beyond mere waste collection, our plan is a comprehensive blueprint for a circular economy, transforming waste into valuable resources,” said Sanjit Rodrigues, managing director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL). He said that Amchi Swachh Panaji envisions a sustainable waste management paradigm, uniting technology, infrastructure, and community engagement to achieve zero landfill, efficient resource recovery, and a lasting model for urban cleanliness. “Our proposal prioritises the well-being of safai saathis (waste pickers) and strengthens the gender and social inclusion approach that would pave the way for a resilient and equitable city,” he added. The MoHUA has collaborated with the French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstaltfür Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) for CITIIS 2.0 program through which it will offer significant financial and technical assistance to the 18 selected cities.