Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government has started roping in Singapore-based agencies for smart city projects.
“A preliminary discussion on the tie-up between the state government and Singapore’s urban development agencies on smart city projects has been held. We plan to engage two leading Singapore-based agencies — Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Centre for Livable City (CLC) — to make Bhubaneswar the smartest city in the world,” housing and urban development minister Puspendra Singh Deo said after a meeting with Singapore consul general Ajit Singh here Wednesday.
CLC in Singapore is working in the area of research, capacity development, knowledge platform and urban development while URA is working on planning and facilitating physical development.
The state plans to engage the two agencies to provide technical support for the city projects, he said.
A consultation programme would be organised in which a technical team from Singapore and officials of the state government would participate, the minister said.
“We have discussed about ways that Orissa and Singapore can collaborate to develop Bhubaneswar as one of the best smart cities. We are looking at the kind of support we can provide to the government in this regard. We are also keen to share our experiences with the government,” said Singh.
The smart city projects will be undertaken at a total estimated cost of Rs 4,396 crore of which Rs 2563 crore is expected to come through the public private partnership mode, according to sources.A MoU is likely to be signed between Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and the agencies, sources said.
