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Karimnagar on Smart Cities list
Dispelling the doubts, despair and lingering suspicions of the denizens, finally, Karimnagar city has on Thursday joined the elite list of ‘Smart Cities Mission’. The Union Ministry of Urban Development which has been dillydallying over clearing the Telangana government’s plea to replace Hyderabad with Karimnagar for the Smart Cities contest has finally given a green signal bringing Karimnagar on
Karimnagar: Dispelling the doubts, despair and lingering suspicions of the denizens, finally, Karimnagar city has on Thursday joined the elite list of ‘Smart Cities Mission’. The Union Ministry of Urban Development which has been dillydallying over clearing the Telangana government’s plea to replace Hyderabad with Karimnagar for the Smart Cities contest has finally given a green signal bringing Karimnagar on board for the Round-II selection.
Albeit, the city got included in the list competing for the Round-II selection, the moot point here is time factor. With little under a fortnight to go for the submission of the proposal to stake claim for Smart Cities contest, it’s virtually impossible for the municipal corporation authorities to approach a consultant for the preparation of the proposal.
In fact, the Smart Cities Mission authorities gave 90 days time for the cities competing for the Smart City tag to submit their proposals. But with Karimnagar city joining them late and June 30 being the last date for the submission of proposals, the ball is in the Centre’s court whether it allows mandatory 90 days or considers the case for the next round.
The bitter experience of Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) which missed the bus by a whisker in the Round-I before being selected in the Fast Track Competition later suggests that it’s not all that easy to meet the parameters of the Smart Cities contest as it needs a lot of homework.
It may be noted here that State government nominated Hyderabad, Warangal and Karimnagar for the Smart Cities contest last year. However, after Karimnagar was eliminated, the State government urged the Centre to replace Hyderabad with it. Since then, a decision in this regard was pending with the Centre. But the Ministry allowed the Karimnagar Municipal Commissioner to participate in the Smart Cities Mission workshops and meetings.
Karimnagar MP B Vinod Kumar, who profusely thanked the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said: “We will not let this opportunity go waste. We will try to develop Karimnagar as a world class city. A proposal for the Smart Cities contest will soon be prepared.”
Municipal Commissioner Krishna Bhaskar told The Hans India: “We are yet to receive the order copy. We will not let this opportunity go waste and seek time from the Ministry of Urban Development so as other cities have got for the submission of proposal.”
By: Adepu Mahender
