Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 8: A high-level German delegation led by the German Ambassador to India, Martin Ney, Friday held discussions with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the state capital’s impending makeover into a Smart City.
Having started their two-day visit to the state Friday, the delegation also held discussions with housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo and some senior officials of the state government. The delegation included top officials of the German embassy and representatives of leading German companies.
Germany has already shown its interest in India’s Smart City projects, and the current visit is seen as a widening of the scope of the Bhubaneswar Smart City project. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, officials of BDA, BMC and Bhubaneswar Smart City Ltd (BSCL) were also present at the meeting held with the German delegation at BDA conference hall.
“German companies are interested in the Smart City projects and will bring in both technology and expertise. The Federal Republic of Germany plans to invest around 320 million Euros across three cities in India under the Smart City Projects,” said Ney to journalists.
The German ambassador, however, said a final decision on the European nation’s participation will be taken in the next meeting. “The finalisation of the projects relating to Bhubaneswar city would be decided later in another round of meeting in New Delhi,” said Ney.
The visiting delegation included representatives of German companies like Siemens, Bosch, DorschGrouppe, Harbaeur and TUV SUD. Sources said leading German companies are interested in investing in projects in Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore and Kochi.
After the meeting Ney, Pushpendra Singh Deo told the media that the German delegation has evinced interest in several projects in the Orissa capital. “The German delegation said their priority will include the complete streets project, non-motorised transport including e-rickshaw and public bicycle sharing project, and more efficient public bus transport system,” said the minister.
The CM tweeted: “Discussed partnership with @GermanyinIndia Ambassador Dr Martin Ney to develop world class #SmartCityBBSR”. Significantly, the Orissa shares historical relations with Germany as Bhubaneswar was designed by renowned German architect and town planner Otto H Konigsberger during the early 1950s. The steel township of Rourkela was also developed with German collaboration and technology.
Leading German banking group KfW is also giving financial assistance of Euro 50 million to Orissa Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) as loan and another Euro 2.5 million towards technical assistance as a grant fund.
