Budget pushes Smart city project

 With the Finance Minister allotting Rs 6,000 crore for smart city projects in 2015-2016, the Centre is likely vigorously push with the states to finalise their choice of city to develop as model city.

The Urban Development Ministry already prepared final draft of the smart city project and is waiting for the cabinet approval. “Soon after getting the cabinet approval for the draft guidelines, the Ministry will sit with state and select the cities to be developed under the scheme,”  an official from the Ministry told Deccan Herald.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government last year announced to develop 100 smart cities across the country with all modern amenities. In the previous year budget the Centre allocated Rs 2,431 core for the same project.

Smart cities are developing existing cities. Under the scheme, cities will be modeled after the group housing concept, with uninterrupted power, water and wi-fi connectivity. Hospitals, schools, commercial complexes, green spaces and energy-efficient structures would be the other features.

The smart city is a self-sustainable unit relying more on renewable energy with integration of green spaces, residential and commercial areas, connected through a web of roads. There will be emphasis is also on minimising waste by increasing energy efficiency and reducing water conservation.

Housing for all

With the NDA government’s commitment to provide housing for all by 2022, Arun Jaitley proposed an allocation of Rs 14, 000 crore in the 2015-2016 against Rs 2341 crore in 2014-15. He also announced that the government intends to build 2 crore houses in rural India and 4 crore in urban India.