Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram is one of the 30 cities selected in the third round to be supported by the smart cities mission. It has probably clinched the topmost rank in the challenge, since it is at the top of the non-alphabetic order list of 30 smart cities published by the Union Ministry of Urban Development. Thiruvananthapuram’s rank can be confirmed only after the scores are published. MoUD minister Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in Delhi that Thiruvananthapuram is one of the top 30 cities.
The press releases from Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and LSGD ministry say that it is ranked No. 1. Thiruvananthapuram is the second city in the state to be chosen after Kochi, which had made it to the top 20 in the first round. Thiruvananthapuram got a second chance in May 2016, when the MoUD chose some capital cities to be in the fray. The project aims to make 100 smart cities, and 60 cities have already been chosen. For the 40 available slots, 45 cities had competed.
The Government of India proposes to give Rs 500 crore to each smart city. The state and the urban local body should contribute Rs 500 crore in addition. However, Thiruvananthapuram has envisaged a Rs 1,538.2- crore project, instead of limiting it to Rs 1,000 crore. To meet the additional Rs 538.2 crore, Rs 142 crore will be raised through public-private partnership, and the corporation will provide Rs 136 crore. The convergence of state and central funds will be sought to raise Rs 260 crore.
