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Smart campaign for Warangal gains pace
With a strong possibility of Warangal city figuring in final list of 100 ‘Smart Cities,’ the denizens of the city are on cloud nine, albeit with a bit of skepticism whether it will make it to the list of the first 20 cities that are to be developed during this fiscal.
Warangal: With a strong possibility of Warangal city figuring in final list of 100 ‘Smart Cities,’ the denizens of the city are on cloud nine, albeit with a bit of skepticism whether it will make it to the list of the first 20 cities that are to be developed during this fiscal.
Although, the ‘Smart Cities’ concept was touted as the NDA government’s flagship programme, it was indeed first mooted in 2012 by the then UPA-II government. The plan is to develop medium-sized cities with half a million to one million populations with a host of hi-tech facilities like intelligent transport and carbon neutral status. The then government even sought the expertise of the Austrian Institute of Technology for the purpose.
During that period itself, a group of people under the banner of ‘Forum for Better Warangal’ made a representation to the State government to recommend the city’s name to the Centre. The civic authorities also pitched in with a detailed report. However, their efforts came to naught.
Now with the NDA government reviving the plan under the ‘Smart Cities’ project, the Warangal people are waiting with bated breath whether their dream would be fulfilled or not. Reports are that the city has been shortlisted under the ambitious Rs 48,000-crore Smart Cities project. The competition is going to be intense as only 20 cities would be taken up for development in this financial year.
The Forum is confident as the city, besides fulfilling all the eligibility conditions set for the Smart Cities, has an added advantage of already being selected under the Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme, which aims at preserving and rejuvenating the rich cultural heritage of the country.Also, the State government’s plan to develop Warangal as a centre of growth augurs well for the city.
Speaking to The Hans India, Forum for Better Warangal president Pulluru Sudhakar said: “Being an educational hub and with a huge potential for tourism, the city should be included in the first 20 Smart Cities that are to be developed this year.” Rajya Sabha member (TDP) Garikapati Mohan Rao informed that, “accompanied by BJP leaders, I already met the Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu over the issue. Hopefully, Warangal will figure in the first list of Smart Cities.”
Meanwhile, the members of the Forum are rallying the people and trying to involve the State government and the people’s representatives of the region like Gundu Sudha Rani, Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar, A Sitaram Naik and Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari.
By:Adepu Mahender
