Itanagar, Jul 24: The State Urban Development Department’s Aalo Division was awarded the prestigious FICCI Urban Innovation Award 2025 in the category of Innovative Urban Infrastructure for its transformative Puak Ghat Riverfront Development Project.
The award was presented during the 8th Urban Challenge Summit & Awards Ceremony (6th edition of the Awards), organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Federation House, New Delhi on Thursday. The Summit was held under the theme “Innovate, Integrate, Sustain”.
Competing against 80 entries from across the country, the Aalo project was shortlisted among the top three in its category and received the Jury Mention Award under 'Smart Public Spaces'.
The award was received by Hali Welly, Executive Engineer, Urban Development, in recognition of his exemplary leadership and the team’s dedicated efforts in executing the riverfront transformation despite numerous logistical and environmental challenges.
The Puak Ghat Riverfront Development Project, located near the confluence of the Yomgo and Sipu rivers, has successfully revitalized a previously unstable, erosion-prone, and unhygienic riverbank into a vibrant and eco-friendly public space.
Inaugurated on December 2, 2024, by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Rs 4.95 crore project features a 250-meter RCC retaining wall to combat erosion and flooding, a scenic walkway, lush parks, and open-air gyms, cafeteria and landscaped zones for recreation, and modern urban amenities including illumination, parking, and public utilities.
Executive Engineer Hali Welly was instrumental in steering the project through several obstacles, including rising river levels during monsoons, land disputes, election-time disruptions, and landslides that affected transportation access.
The project has led to a 70% reduction in illegal parking, improved environmental sustainability, boosted local commerce, enhanced community well-being, and is expected to spur tourism and generate livelihood opportunities for the local population.
The recognition marks a milestone for Arunachal Pradesh’s urban development efforts and highlights Aalo's growing importance as a model for innovative, sustainable infrastructure in the Northeast.