NEW DELHI: Shillong is among the 23 cities and towns from various States and Union Territories which was given an opportunity to participate in the ‘Fast Track Competition’ under Smart City Mission who submitted their revised plans on Thursday.
As per the Urban Development Ministry release, the deadline for submission of Smart city proposals ended on Thursday.
The revised plans of these 23 cities, including 15 capitals, would be evaluated by May 15 this year and those meeting the benchmark set by the winning cities in the first round of Smart City Challenge Competition will be announced for extending Central assistance.
Besides Shillong which had the rank of 70 in the first round of competition other 23 cities along with their respective ranks in the first round of competition are Warangal, Chandigarh, Lucknow, New Town in Kolkata, Goa, Pasighat, Dharamshala, Faridabad, Raipur, Bhagalpur, Namchi, Port Blair, Diu, Oulgaret, Puducherry, Silvassa, Imphal, Ranchi, Agartala, Kohima, Kavaratti and Dehradun.
Bhubaneswar was ranked number one and Bhopal stood last in the first list of 20 mission cities announced earlier on January 28.
Since only 12 States and UTs were represented in the first list, the Ministry offered another opportunity to the unrepresented 23 States and UTs to participate in Fast Track Competition in pursuance of the principle of urban transformation across the country. After evaluation of Smart City Plans of 97 cities in the first round of competition and announcement of the first list, the remaining were informed of the deficiencies in the plans.
The inadequacies identified included lacunae in assessment of cities, disconnect between citizens’ aspirations and vision documents, disconnect between vision document and SWOT analysis, over-ambitious nature of plans, mismatch between costs and resource mobilization, lacunae in implementation plans and result orientation.
A day after the announcement of the first list of 20 smart cities, Cabinet Secretary, PK Sinha interacted with the Chief Secretaries of all the States and UTs and Municipal Commissioners of all 97 mission cities on the principles of preparation of smart city plans and urged those cities not included in the first list to not lose heart and instead to revisit their plans for addressing deficiencies.
During the video-conferencing by Cabinet Secretary, several cities admitted to lacunae in different aspects of plans and assured to correct the same.
Urban Development Ministry held a Consultation Workshop for the 23 cities and towns participating in Fast Track Competition besides holding several Studio Workshops wherein respective Smart City Plans were ‘read out to rectify’.
The regular second round of City Challenge Competition for the remaining 97 cities included in the Smart City Mission got underway on April 1st and these cities will have to submit revised smart city plans by the June end this year.
The 23 cities which were included in the Fast Track Competition and failed to be selected can also join the second round of competition, the release said.
While 20 smart cities were selected during 2015-16 as per the mission guidelines, another 40 would be selected during 2016-17 and the remaining 40 during the next financial year. Each city selected in different rounds of competition will be given Central assistance of Rs 200 cr in the first year and Rs 100 cr each during the subsequent three financial years.
State governments and respective urban local bodies will provide matching funds to the same amount. Accordingly, each mission city would get a total assistance of Rs 1,000 cr over a five-year period. (PTI)
