<div>Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri today said, 99 cities have been selected for Smart Cities Mission and nine integrated control centres have been operationalised. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>Briefing media on key initiatives of the Ministry during four years of NDA government, Mr Puri stated the Smart Cities Mission is one of the most transformational urban missions. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>He added the NDA government views increasing urbanisation as a challenge and opportunity to bring about a transformative change in the lives of the people.</div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>He stressed that the aim is to achieve transformative, inclusive and sustainable urban development through planning and reforms.</div>''<div></div>''<div>AIR correspondent reports that urban areas of 17 states have become Open Defecation Free. A total of 2729 cities have been declared Open Defecation Free and 57 lakh individual toilets and 3.8. lakh community public toilets have been constructed.</div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>99 cities have been selected for Smart Cities Mission, 9 integrated control centres have been operationalised: Hardeep Puri</div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri today said, 99 cities have been selected for Smart Cities Mission and nine integrated control centres have been operationalised. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>Briefing media on key initiatives of the Ministry during four years of NDA government, Mr Puri stated the Smart Cities Mission is one of the most transformational urban missions. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>He added the NDA government views increasing urbanisation as a challenge and opportunity to bring about a transformative change in the lives of the people. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>He stressed that the aim is to achieve transformative, inclusive and sustainable urban development through planning and reforms.</div>''<div></div>''<div>AIR correspondent reports that urban areas of 17 states have become Open Defecation Free. </div>''<div><br />''</div>''<div>A total of 2729 cities have been declared Open Defecation Free and 57 lakh individual toilets and 3.8. lakh community public toilets have been constructed.</div>