As it looks to firm up its smart city plan, the Centre will hold a wide-ranging meeting with all state governments on September 12 to decide on the broad framework of the NDA dispensation’s ambitious project.
The Centre is in the advanced stages of finalising the contours of the smart city project, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said. In its maiden budget, NDA government has announced a plan to develop 100 smart cities in the country. UD Ministry, the nodal ministry for the mega project, is holding extensive discussions with all concerned to formulate an action plan for the enterprise.
“I am holding wide-ranging discussions with stakeholders, including states, Members of Parliament, urban local bodies. Some foreign countries have also shown interest in the project,” Naidu said. Round-the-clock supply of water and electricity, improved public transportation system, modern amenities, eGovernance and clean and green environment are some of the parameters for the proposed smart cities.
“It is the urban local bodies and state governments which will have a vital role in the execution of the project. We have to take the state governments on board. We have called a meeting of all state governments on Sept. 12 regarding the project,” he said. On the development of Andhra Pradesh and the newly-created state of Telangana, Naidu said the Centre will support both states and there will be no partiality towards any one of them.