URBAN LIFE ON FAST TRACK - Pune clears round 1, next goal is top 20

Aug 28 2015 : The Times of India (Pune)

Pune: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Pips Big Metros Like Kolkata To Find A Place Among 98 In The Country Chosen For Smart Cities Mission

In a big boost that would make a difference to the quality of urban life, Pune was among the 98 cities chosen for development under the Smart Cities Mission.There is much to cheer here as state capitals like Bengaluru and Kolkata did not make the cut. However, the grind begins now, since the city will have to make it to the final round of the mission.Along with the other selected cities, Pune too will have to prepare a city-level Smart City Plan which will be evaluated in the second stage of the competition based on a broad set of criteria. The top scoring 20 cities will be picked by the Centre for funding during this financial year.
Funds may be released to the final 20 cities by this year end. They will get central assistance of Rs 200 crore in the first year followed by Rs 100 crore each year for the next four years.
Others cities, which will not make it to the list of 20, will be asked to improve upon the identified deficiencies before participating in the next two rounds of the competition.
“Pune got selected in the list of 98 cities only because of the collective efforts and participation of its citizens. Now, we will take all efforts to prepare a plan so that the city gets a place in the list of final 20 cities. I am sure that with popular participation and cooperation, Pune will make it,“ municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar told TOI.
The civic administration has tabled a proposal to the standing committee seeking approval to appoint a private agency that will prepare a final plan for the smart city plan.
The administration wants to complete the plan in 100 days and submit it to the Cen tre.
Member of Parliament from Pune Anil Shirole said, “During the Lok Sabha elec tion, I had promised that all efforts will be taken to make Pune better. We will ensure that Pune is one of the best smart cities in India.“ The state government had proposed a combined proposal for Pune and the Pimpri Chinch wad municipal corporation, but the Centre dropped Pim pri Chinchwad. Union urban development minister M Ven kaiah Naidu on Thursday an nounced the list of 98 cities.
The Smart Cities Mission hopes to drive economic growth and improve the qual ity of life of urban life by enabling local area development and harnessing technology , especially technology that leads to smart outcomes.
The mission envisions IT connectivity , digitization, core infrastructure like water supply , electricity, sanitation, public transport, solid waste management, affordable housing for better living in urban areas among other aspects.
“Area-based development will transform existing areas (retrofit and redevelop), including slums, into better planned ones, thereby improving livability of the whole city.New areas (greenfield) will be developed around cities in order to accommodate the expanding population in urban areas,“ the note released by the government of India states.
Pune's inclusion in the mission will create employment and enhance incomes for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, leading to inclusive cities, said BJP MLA Vijay Kale.
Other experts said it will boost investment and real estate activity in the city.
Confusion about Pimpri Chinchwad
Some senior state government officials on Thursday claimed that though the list for 98 Smart Cities does not mention Pimpri Chinchwad, the state government had sent one proposal for Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad and hence both cities were selected.“There was a single proposal for both cities. The Centre has mentioned Pune's name in the list, but it means that even Pimpri Chinchwad is chosen along with Pune,“ a senior state official told reporters. However, no one in the state government's urban development department was sure if Pimpri Chinchwad was part of the mission or if the Centre had selected Pune and left out Pimpri Chinchwad. The final list published by the union urban development department mentions just Pune in the list.