Mumbai: The framework for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious project of developing 100 smart cities will be finalised by next month-end, Union Urban Development Secretary Shankar Aggarwal on Thursday said.
“In another two days we will complete the process of identification of the 100 cities which we want to make smart. We are working on the guidelines and we expect the framework will be ready by February 28,” Aggarwal told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
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 percent sewerage, drainage and solid waste management facilities, besides top class infrastructure, he said.
The government expects a large contribution from the private sector in developing the cities, he said.
“We plan to develop these cities on public private partnership basis. Every city would on an average need investments to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore over next 10 years. We want the private sector to contribute largely, nearly 80-85 percent, towards this development,” Aggarwal said.
The ministry has asked the states to ensure that the cities which are picked under the smart cities initiative meet the broad contours listed by it, including economically viable cities, meeting the requirements of ‘e-governance’, ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’.
“The Centre will take a final call based on criteria like cities accounting for 54 percent of incremental GDP till 2025, hill and coastal areas, tourist and religious centres and mid-sized cities,” he added.
