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Centre to release list of Smart Cities by Sept 1
Highlights
The Union government is set to announce by September 1 the names of urban centres that would figure in the list of 100 smart cities, a flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government. \"By September 1, the list of 100 cities will be announced officially. It is almost ready,\" Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Saturday.
- Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu says initially 20 cities will be taken up under the project
- He wants administration to be brave in taking decisions like increasing user charges, without fearing backlash from public
- Such stridency will only help achieve success
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Hyderabad: The Union government is set to announce by September 1 the names of urban centres that would figure in the list of 100 smart cities, a flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government. "By September 1, the list of 100 cities will be announced officially. It is almost ready," Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing M Venkaiah Naidu said here on Saturday.
"Initially, only 20 cities will be taken up on priority. These 20 cities will be selected on certain parameters, which have already been communicated to the 100 cities. Not only 100 cities, those guidelines have been sent to other aspirant cities also," he said. Naidu was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 'National Conclave on Smart Technologies' organised by Smart Cities Council India.
Explaining further, he said the competition among cities would be in terms of providing better amenities to citizens and administration, including accountability and transparency, based on which ranking would be provided. He said the implementation of the mission would be carried out by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
The SPV would plan, appraise, approve, release funds, implement, manage, operate, monitor and evaluate the Smart City Development projects. Each smart city would have a SPV to be headed by a full time CEO and nominees of Central and State Governments and Urban Local Body on its Board.
"Initially, the government will provide Rs 100 crore fund to the SPV and there will be a matching fund from State governments and local bodies," the Union Minister said. The local bodies should be "bold enough" to take tough decisions such as increasing user fee wherever required.
Taking a dig at political parties, he said, regardless of party in power, no civic body was willing to increase charges fearing a backlash from the public. "Smart city requires smart leader, vision and should be able to take tough decisions, and ensure people's participation. Then only the smart city concept will become successful," he felt.
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