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Detailed project reports (DPRs) worth over ₹1 lakh crore are being prepared under the Smart Cities Mission in the country.
According to Pratap Padode, founder and Executive Director of the Smart Cities Council of India, the DPRs cover more than 2,000 projects.
At present, projects worth ₹1,34,401 crore spread across 2,765 projects are at various stages of implementation while 243 projects worth ₹4,853 crore have been completed.
A total investment of about ₹2,03,979 crore has been proposed for 99 smart cities under the Mission.
Speaking at the Sm@rt Urbanisation Conference here on Thursday, Padode said about 147 projects worth ₹1,872 crore have been completed and 396 projects are currently under implementation which entail an investment of ₹14,672 crore.
“Sm@rt Urbanisation has emerged as a platform for the government and various stakeholders to have dialogue and derive ways to strengthen urban infrastructure. In its fifth year, the summit showcases the latest technologies and real world solutions that help transform cities into liveable, workable and sustainable cities,” said Padode.
R Roshan Baig, Karnataka Infrastructure and Urban development Minister, said: “Technology plays a major role in improving our lives. We need to build more roads and develop infrastructure to cater to the growing urban population. Along with infrastructure, emphasis needs to be made on improving urban mobility and ensuring social safety.”
Experts at the conference expressed the need to amend Municipal Acts so that they begin to think along smart city lines.
“Select 99 smart cities does not mean the transformation of entire cities identified as a part of the mission. Select areas in the city will be transformed so that the model can be replicated in other locations,” said Padode.
In Telangana, Hyderabad and Warangal are designated smart cities. Ten more cities have been chosen for infrastructure improvement under the Smart Cities Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
Various services providers are keenly watching the progress of these DPRs so that they could take part in the projects.
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