eGovWatch: 100 Smart Cities project will be launched any day, says M Venkaiah Naidu

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Contours have been worked out for the 100 smart cities project and the flagship programme will be launched any day, Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said in Hyderabad.

“Making urban areas more livable, by new initiatives, to make them engines of economic growth. Like building smart cities, 100 smart cities. The plans are ready, contours have been worked out. Cabinet has approved it. Consultation with all stakeholders is over. Any day, it will be launched. We are waiting for the launching day,” he told PTI in Hyderabad.

The Union Cabinet had on April 29 gave its nod to the flagship 100 smart cities project and the new urban renewal mission with a total outlay of about Rs. one lakh crore.

“Then, we have 500 cities in the country. Atal Mission for Urban Renewal and Transformation (AMRUT). 500 cities of one lakh and above population are going to be taken care of, with regard to drinking water, solid waste management, transport, sanitation, green belt, energy conservation. All these things will be funded by the government,” Mr Naidu said.

Under the ‘Housing for All by 2022’, he said, huge amount of interest subvention is going to be given upfront so that the EMI will be less for the beneficiaries.

‘Smart City’ is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project aimed at recasting the urban landscape of the country by making cities more livable and inclusive besides driving the economic growth.

Each selected city under the ambitious scheme would get central assistance of Rs. 100 crore per year for five years.

‘Smart City’ aspirants will be selected through a ‘City Challenge Competition’ intended to link financing with the ability of the cities to perform to achieve the mission’s objectives.

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