UP emerges as leader in sustainable urbanisation

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a leader in sustainable urbanisation and ranks second in the country in terms of green building adoption, with over 1,400 registered projects spanning 1.6 billion square feet of green building footprint under the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). This fact came to light at CII IGBC's annual conference, which was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak on Saturday. "UP has long recognised the importance of integrating sustainability into its growth strategies, and today, that vision is becoming a reality. Through IGBC's Healthcare Building Rating System, we are seeing hospitals and medical facilities that prioritize patient care while being mindful of their environmental impact. All govt buildings have a mandate to be green, and all stakeholders are inspired to adopt green initiatives for a sustainable and climate-resilient Uttar Pradesh," Pathak said. CII deputy executive director M Anand told TOI that UP stands second only to Maharashtra, where over 3,541 projects are underway. UP is followed by Karnataka (1,179), Gujarat (1,129), Tamil Nadu (1,087), and Telangana (1,013) in the rankings. Haryana (977) and West Bengal (849) are also among the better-performing states. Anand noted that UP, with its proactive policies, is a strong supporter of green development and that Lucknow is an important contributor to the cause. "Lucknow has over 140 green and Net Zero projects," he said, adding that Lucknow metro rail stations, Charbagh railway station, Ekana international cricket stadium and Academy, IOCL divisional office, RBI staff quarters, and SBI officers' colony are among the establishments that have embraced IGBC norms.He also pointed out that UP was the first state in India to introduce Green Building Incentives. "UP was the first state to offer a 5% additional FAR for IGBC Gold and above-rated projects in Noida and Greater Noida. The state also offers a 10% additional FAR for IGBC Gold and above-rated projects in the rest of the state. At least a dozen states followed UP's footsteps," Anand said. He reiterated IGBC's continued commitment to collaborating with state govts, municipal bodies, and the entire Indian construction industry to mainstream Green and Net Zero practices in buildings. Notably, established in 2001, IGBC now has 30 chapters across India. Represented by all stakeholders of the construction industry, the Council works with governments, the World Green Building Council, and bilateral and multilateral agencies to promote green building concepts in India.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's Day wishes, messages and quotes !