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Bhubaneswar, July 23: The state government Thursday decided to recommend five cities for the ‘Smart City’ mission, instead of two cities chosen from Orissa. A decision to this effect was taken at a steering committee meeting presided over by Chief Secretary GC Pati here.
“The state has decided to recommend five corporations for inclusion in the ‘smart city’ mission. As per guidelines, Bhubaneswar scored the highest marks and Rourkela came second to qualify for the mission,” housing and urban development secretary SK Rato told the media after the meeting.
While Bhubaneswar scored 70 out of 100, Rourkela got 61.11 and three other cities – Berhampur, Sambalpur and Cuttack – scored 60 each as per the Central yardstick, he said.
“Capital Bhubaneswar scored the highest marks. We hope the city will be included in the first phase of the smart city mission wherein 20 cities will be developed as smart cities,” Bhubaneswar Mayor AN Jena said.
The state will send a proposal to the Union ministry of housing and urban poverty pleading for inclusion of five cities under the ‘smart city mission’ by July-end and evaluate the proposals by attributing 30 per cent weightage to the preparedness of the city and 70 per cent weightage to the merit of the proposal. The procedures will be completed by August first week, a senior official of the H&UD department said.
“Bhubaneswar meets most of the points in the guidelines. I hope the city may be included in the first phase of the implementation of the mission,” the official said.
The Centre will sanction Rs 100crore per year to each city for five years and the state government or the concerned civic body would contribute equal amount for the project.
Besides, the state shall have to create a special purpose vehicle (SPV) at the city-level for execution of all projects with equal share from state and the concerned civic body, the scheme said. While a secretary-rank officer would be appointed as mission director, the high-powered steering committee will monitor the projects, it added.
Earlier, the state had demanded ‘smart city‘ tag for five municipal corporations. But, the Centre has agreed to include two cities from state on the 50: 50 weightage formula on the basis of urban population and number of civic bodies in the state. It had asked the state to shortlist two cities based on the condition precedent and the criteria prescribed by the Centre, he said.
