SHILLONG, April 5: The state government will push for additional funds from the central government for the Shillong Smart City project.
Urban Affairs Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar on Tuesday said the total estimate for the project is Rs 700 crore, half of which will be borne by the Centre.
The central government has released around Rs 140 crore for the project while the state has released around Rs 50 crore, Dhar said, adding that ongoing projects under Shillong Smart City are progressing well with the Laitumkhrah and Polo markets expected to be commissioned within the next 18 months.
Asked how Shillong can be termed a ‘smart city’ when the traffic snarls have become a perennial problem, he said the issue of traffic is addressed by various departments like PWD, Home and Urban Affairs and in order to ease the congestion, the government has proposed to shift its offices to the New Shillong Township.
Dhar admitted that acquisition of land for widening of roads in the city was a tough job, and said that the land acquisition cost may cost the government more than the actual cost of the project.
The minister further informed that under the project, (Contd on P-4)
Govt to seek more central funds…
(Contd from P-1) the state government plans to construct 6 km of smart roads as a pilot project at 16 locations across the city. The road length would be extended to 25 km depending on the success of the pilot project. The smart road project is to be taken up at a cost of Rs 36 crore by the PWD’s National Highway division.
In addition, the government would construct rainwater harvesting systems at various locations of the city at an estimated cost of Rs 23 crore. A tender has also been floated for construction of parking lots in the city, he added.
