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Politicians find place in Smart Cities project execution

Last Updated 21 September 2017, 21:06 IST

Smart cities projects are yet to take off, but elected representatives have managed to lobby their way in through a committee that will “guide and monitor” the progress of the already-delayed Smart Cities mission.

Seven cities - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Davangere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Mangaluru and Tumakuru - have been chosen to receive Rs 500 crore each from the Centre under the Smart Cities mission.

Except Bengaluru that was shortlisted in June this year, the other six cities were chosen by the Centre almost a year ago. It is only now that the Urban Development Department (UDD) has issued an order delegating decision-making powers to special purpose vehicles (SPV) that will implement the project. The Smart City SPV for Bengaluru is yet to receive a Cabinet approval.

Now, each city will have a ‘Smart City Implementation and Review Committee’ comprising the MP, MLAs, leader of the Opposition party in the municipal corporation, the mayor among others. Chaired by the minister for Urban Development and co-chaired by the district in-charge minister, the committees are to take up regular review of the SPV decisions and ensure time-bound implementation, ensure public participation, resolve implementation problems and portray their respective cities as favourable investment destinations.

There was pressure on the UDD to give elected representatives a say in the project, because the onus of planning and implementation is with the SPV, according to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs guidelines.

“Powers have been delegated to the SPVs based on guidelines of the Centre,” Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Mahendra Jain said. “The final say will remain with the SPVs,” Jain said, when asked what the role of the review committees will be vis-a-vis SPVs.

To fast-track implementation of the project, the SPVs have been given powers to approve projects worth Rs 20 crore (sub-projects upto Rs 100 crore) and take decisions on tendering and consultancy. Projects above Rs 20 crore (sub-projects above Rs 100 crore) will have to be cleared by the state government.

Delay in setting up the SPV for Bengaluru is keeping the city from getting a host of projects the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has proposed. They include 50 smart card-enabled public bicycle sharing points, 30 e-rickshaw stands, 35 e-toilets, water ATMs, 420 sensor-based smart dustbins and 50 designated vending kiosks - all connected to 1,250 smart telecom towers that will also double up as street light poles.

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(Published 21 September 2017, 21:06 IST)

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