JOIN USThe Ministry of Urban Development will announce the names of first batch of 100 smart cities by September 1, flagging off competition which will end in the final selection of 20 cities based on certain parameters.
However, the selected few need not turn out “Smart” if they fail to perform. Smart cities are a central government initiative to develop promising cities into most livable places with the help of technology.
Announcing this at the two-day national conclave on smart technologies here on Saturday, Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu said that a Special Launch Vehicle (SPV) will be launched for each of the selected cities or urban local bodies to help in fund raising.
“Once selected the state governments will be intimated. After SPVs are formed for operational independence an officer will be appointed to head the SPV. That person will then contact financial agencies and also oversee development,” Venkaiah Naidu said.
“A city must qualify itself, we don’t want to eliminate any city, but the selected city should also have a smart leader so that it can take bold decisions and to actively involve to see that people participate in the process,” he said.
The minister said that his ministry on its part will identify international agencies willing to participate and oversee implementation. Hinting on the areas of concentration Naidu said that initiatives such as rain water harvesting, water recycling, green buildings, solar power and saving energy through LED street lamps will be appreciated.