Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 27: The state government Monday submitted a proposal to the centre for transforming Rourkela as a Smart City and enable Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) to participate in the second round of Smart City Challenge.
Housing and urban development (H&UD) secretary G Mathi Vathanan has submitted the proposal to Union ministry of urban development undersecretary Sanjay Sharma, who is also the mission director of the Smart City scheme. The city would compete with about 76 cities, which are in the race for Smart City scheme. Last year, 20 cities including Bhubaneswar have qualified for the competition. Bhubaneswar was crowned the top position in the race while RMC failed to qualify for the competition, sources said.
A state-level high-powered steering committee meet headed by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi held June 25 approved the Rourkela Smart City project worth Rs 2,571.3 crore. The district administration along with RMC had made all efforts to develop the city’s physical and social infrastructure to emerge successful in the national-level competition to be held shortly.
Of the total project cost, Rs 500 crore would be provided by the Centre while an equal amount will be provided by the state government. The remaining fund would come from different sources and agencies.
The proposal envisages transforming Rourkela into a citizen-centric and self-sustainable city with adequate economic, social and political opportunities through participatory approach.
