States Smart Cities to be developed on Centres Smart City Norms

Bhopal: The Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the cities left to be included under Government of India’s Smart City Project on competition basis will be developed as State’s Smart City with similar facilities. Shri Chouhan was addressing mayors at Mantralaya during presentation on the evaluation of Smart City proposals here today.

It may be noted here that every State has to send proposal for selection of Government of India’s 100 Smart Cities on the basis of certain parameters. As many as seven cities from the State will be included in 100 cities.

Shri Chouhan in his address to the mayors said that the State Government’s vision is to develop every city into a Smart City. For this dedicated efforts are the pre-requisite. The state government would extend all possible assistance and guidance.

The Chief Minister urged the mayors to raise financial resources, improve revenue collection and increase the quality of public amenities. He said that considering increasing tasks and activities it is necessary to provide engineering staff to municipal corporation.

Shri Chouhan said that the state government has already launched action plans and projects for GIS Mapping, E-municipal corporation, improved sewage systems, Housing for the Poor, infrastructure development, water supply etc. which could help to build Smart City.

GoI’s Smart City Criteria

The meeting was informed that the criteria for selecting and developing State’s Smart Cities will be the same laid by the Government of India.

The Government of India’s criteria include performance under Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan, Public Grievances Redressal System, a monthly e-newsletter, online budget expenditure information, resolution by elected city council for Smart City, ward-level consultations, provision of penalties for delay in delivery of services, revenue collection status, timely payment of salary, accounts audit, percentage of expenditure of total budget on maintenance of water supply system, revenue collection compared to the total budget of the state, capital expenditure using internal revenue resources, project completion and city level reforms under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission.

Evaluation of cities on these parameters revealed Bhopal as number one, Indore second, Jabalpur third, Gwalior fourth, Sagar fifth, Satna sixth, Burhanpur seventh, Ujjain eighth, Dewas ninth and Katni tenth. The newly formed municipal corporation Chhindwara remained at the bottom.

The Chief Minister said that the remaining cities and towns will be developed as State’s Smart City based on the parameters of the Government of India. He said the initiatives like raising State Urban Development Company has been taken. The financial resources would be mobilized for urban development so that there will be no shortage of money in making of Smart City.

Minister of State for General Administration and in charge of Urban Development and Environment, Shri  Lal Singh Arya, mayors and the municipal commissioners, chief secretary Shri Anthony De’ Sa, Secretary to C.M. Shri Vivek Agrawal and senior officers were present.