The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) announces Varanasi along with Detroit and Venice as global cities to host innovation challenges in its Sustainable Cities Challenge. The $9 million global initiative is to help cities to promote sustainable mobility, healthier urban environments, and improved access to services in cities.
Over 150 cities from 46 countries entered the Sustainable Cities Challenge after the call to cities was first launched in June 2023. The top three cities from a shortlist announced in November 2023, and the selected cities will launch their own City Challenges, inviting global innovators to work with them. Varanasi will launch its City Challenge on June 27, 2024.
The solutions must be applicable and tailored to meet the mobility needs of the winning cities. In late 2024, the best solutions will be selected, each receiving a share of USD 3 million in innovation grants for demonstration and pilot testing. The winners will then be selected for further scaling and implementation in 2026. Elated with Varanasi making to the final list, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We at TKM are thrilled that Varanasi has been chosen as one of the global cities in the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge.”
