SHILLONG: As Shillong city has been selected as the 100th smart city, the Urban Affairs Minister, Hamlet Dohling said that the State Government could not afford to lose such a golden opportunity even if the funding pattern for the project was on a basis of 50:50.
Recently, Shillong, was selected as the 100th Smart City after evaluating a proposal submitted by the state government.
Talking to newsmen here on Monday, Urban Affairs Minister, Hamlet Dohling said that the State Government was still waiting for the necessary details of the approval of the proposal made by the Meghalaya Government.
He, however, said that it was clear that the project would be developed on a pattern of 50:50 funding .
“ We are lucky that Shillong has been selected by Government of India and we cannot waste such a golden opportunity,” Dohling told reporters.
He also said that the Government would try to mobiles the resources for the massive projects which would be taken up under the Smart city project.
The ministry had, kept the final, i.e., the 100th slot for the Smart Cities Mission on hold for the Meghalaya capital and Shillong was selected for inclusion in the scheme, but it couldn’t submit its proposal on time due to state elections on February 27 this year.
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The 100 Smart Cities Mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 25, 2015. Under the mission, the Centre allocates Rs 500 crore to each of the cities for implementing projects proposed by it. This amount is matched with a grant of the same amount by the respective state.
With the selection of Shillong, the total proposed investment in the finally selected 100 cities under the Smart Cities Mission would be Rs 2,05,018 crore.