The State has already proposed different cities and towns for three categories of the Smart City project
Bengalureans must be hoping the city will be included under the Smart City project which will give a much needed boost to its roads and drains. But that will be known only on June 25 when the BJP led NDA government issues guidelines for the project
Bengaluru: Will Bengaluru make it or not? With its creaking infrastructure, most Bengalureans must be hoping the city will be included under the Smart City project which will give a much needed boost to its roads and drains. But that will be known only on June 25 when the BJP led NDA government issues guidelines for the project.
A senior officer of the Department of Urban Development told Deccan Chronicle that it was difficult to say if Bengaluru would be included as the state has not received clear guidelines from the Centre. In fact, the guidelines are being updated by the union government daily and hence, it was too early to comment on the inclusion of the State capital under the scheme. “We are waiting for guidelines to be issued on June 25,’ the officer said.
The State has already proposed different cities and towns for three categories of the Smart City project. They include Ramanagaram, Channapatna, Devanahalli and Tumakuru in the category of towns and cities with a population less than 5 lakh; Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubbali-Dharwad and Mangaluru for the category of 5 to 10 lakh population and Vijayapura, Udupi and Hospet under the heritage category.
Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu’s statement that “if Bengaluru was to be made Smart, a Smart City Plan could be formulated for the entire city and based on the ability to mobilise resources, plans could be made for the needy parts of the city as well” had indicated the confusion over the project. Once the guidelines are issued, the State needs to study the possibility of taking up road, UGD, drinking water and other infrastructure projects as one component across the city or take up any one in a part of the city where such amenities are required. “Although, we have recommended ten cities, it was up to the union government to accept or reject it,” an officer said.
Mr Venkaiah Naidu’s assurance of financial assistance to projects taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) but with progress of over 50 per cent, had re-kindled hopes of completing all pending projects both in Bengaluru and Mysuru. Almost all project taken up prior to 2013 according to the old JNNURM scheme have been completed. But those started post 2013 are in limbo for want of funds. The State requires around Rs 2,500 crore to complete the works taken up after 2013 in Bengaluru and Mysuru cities.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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