[Urbanstudy] States with bigger urban population to have more smart cities

[Vinay Baindur]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/States-with-bigger-urban-population-to-have-more-smart-cities/articleshow/46350335.cms

*States with bigger urban population to have more smart cities*
Dipak K Dash
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Dipak-K-Dash.cms>,
TNN | Feb 24, 2015, 06.26AM IST
NEW DELHI: States with higher urban population such as Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Gujarat shall have more smart cities.
Sources said the share of states to country's total urban population would
be the criteria for developing the number of both brown-field and
greenfield smart cities, though there will be a provision that every state
gets at least one such city.

Government sources said that the framework of NDA's flagship scheme would
be finalized only by end of this financial year and the selection of first
few cities to get financial assistance to become smart city would start in
the first couple of months of 2015-16.

According to 2011 Census, Maharashtra has the maximum urban population of
5.1 crore inhabitants while UP has about 4.5 crore people living in urban
areas. Tamil Nadu has the third highest urban population of around 3.5
crore. Delhi has about 1.6 crore urban population.

"As per the criteria, states would be informed how many cities from each
would be brought in this pool. Then they will nominate cities. The list of
first 20 or so cities would be finalized through a competition. We propose
central assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for each city that they can use for
preparing plans, carrying out consultancy services and even to take up
projects," said an official.

Sources said during the next two years new set of 40 states would be
included in the list annually. It would be up to cities and the urban local
bodies to get funds for better urban infrastructure, services and IT
solutions. Municipal bodies with sound financial position are likely to get
the maximum advantage out of the central assistance.

"Finalizing the framework took time since it involved a lot of consultation
with several stake holders. Once we identify the cities, it gains momentum.
While Centre will keep track of the progress, the success of the schemes
lie in how both state governments and urban local bodies are taking keen
interest," an official said.

Addressing the joint session of Parliament on Monday President Pranab
Mukherjee said that the government has initiated measures to stir action in
a range of fields including sanitation to smart cities. He added, "...After
extensive stakeholder consultations, the Smart City programme is close to
finalization."
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.mail.sarai.net/pipermail/urbanstudygroup_mail.sarai.net/attachments/20150225/d983e550/attachment.html>