AGARTALA, Oct 5 (TIWN): Speaking at the workshop on Citizen Consultation for preparation of Smart city proposal for AMC, DM (west) Millind Ramteke on Monday at City centre auditorium said that it is moment of pride that the land locked Agartala is placed in the list of the ‘Smart city’.

The workshop was inaugurated by AMC Mayor Prafullajit Sinha.

Taking a step towards the implementation of the smart city, he further said that the government’s vision is to develop cities with technology-based governance that will enable efficient public services and have 24×7 water and power supply, 100 per cent sewerage, drainage and solid waste management facilities, besides top class infrastructure. Besides that plan to develop these cities on public private partnership basis is on top most priority. Every city would on an average need investments to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore over next 10 years. The Government wants that the private sector to contribute largely, nearly 80-85 per cent, towards this development.

Continuous supply of water and electricity, advanced health facilities, hassle-free transportation system, wi-fi enabled zones, effective garbage collection and treatment of garbage and sewage are some of the essential components of the Smart City project. The urban local bodies will have to undertake certain reforms in order to be eligible to be part of the Smart City project.

‘But merely giving some money will not make these cities 'smart' since their existing problems may not be resolved so easily. The need is to take up urban development project from scratch, plan and design a Smart City, build it with all the required infrastructure and amenities that will voluntarily attract people to go and live there’, added Ramteke.

It is to be mentioned here that Under smart city project, the Central government takes a initiative to develop 400 civic bodies across the country. 

The Union cabinet approved Rs 48,000 crore to be spent on the project over the next five years.