'Smart' plan clinched it for Belagavi

Careful planning, proposals on comprehensive area-based development, unique redevelopment and retrofit models and proposal to develop infrastructure on a par with national standards helped Belagavi make it to the 20 cities that will be developed as Smart Cities in the first phase of the Union government’s ambitious project.

The Belagavi City Corporation, after holding consultations with the public, had submitted a Rs 3,866-crore proposal under the Smart City project.

It proposed area-based development, drinking water supply, underground drainage with sewage treatment plants, parks and recreation space besides providing all its services under e-governance. While preparing area-based development plans, the corporation had divided the city into three parts.

Under the Smart City project, Belagavi’s heritage sites will also be developed.

The corporation’s commissioner, G Prabhu, said their efforts in the past few months had paid off and they would now focus on executing the projects which would be implemented in a phased manner. Rs 200 crore are expected in the first phase.

Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav will hold a meeting next week on how to implement the project, Prabhu said.