Pune Mayor to meet Naidu for smart city tag

Pune

Mayor Shakuntala Dharade, along with NCP leader Sharad Pawar and district guardian minister Girish Bapat, would meet Union development minister Venkaiah Naidu on September 9, days after Pimpri Chinchwad was excluded from the list of smart cities.

www.sevagiri.com

Two days before the crucial meeting, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation held a special general body meeting on September 7 demanding the city's inclusion in the smart city project of the central government. Several corporators said the city was not in the list despite clearing all criteria of the project.

Several elected office-bearers of the civic body would accompany the mayor to the meeting with the Union minister on September 9.

When the city was excluded from the list of smart cities on August 28, there were angry reactions from political leaders and city activists. The civic administration had termed the decision unfortunate.

The NCP, which governs the corporation, said it was a political ploy. The BJP had hit back, saying its inclusion was suspended because of several irregularities and corruption in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission projects.

A day after its exclusion, district guardian minister Girish Bapat had said the state government would give a special package to the city. He had also claimed that efforts were on to include Pimpri Chinchwad in the list of smart cities. The proposal for the inclusion of Pimpri Chinchwad in the list would be sent to the state government as well as the Union government.

Source - TOI 

Noida's smart, with or without the tag!

Delhi/NCR

The Union government recently released the list of 100 cities to be included in the Smart City Mission. Each city on the list will be allotted funds to develop a basic infrastructure and a clean and sustainable environment for quality life. While Uttar Pradesh bagged the lion's share of the allotment, as 13 of its cities are on the list, Noida - considered one of the best-developed cities in the state, missed out. 

www.sevagiri.com

However, even as some of the other cities that didn't make it to the list are threatening to move court over the snub, Noidawallahs are hardly bothered. They say that with solid infrastructure, transport network, and plenty of job and educational opportunities, the city is already ahead of its neighbours in the race, and doesn't need the official tag. Aditi Banerjee, a resident of Sector 19, says, "I don't think not being named in the Smart City list is any sort of loss to Noida.

As a newer city, Noida has an advantage. It has been developed in a planned manner, unlike Gurgaon or Faridabad, its NCR cousins." Arpita Singh, who works with HCL, says, "When we think of the term 'smart city', we think of a futuristic town with wide, smooth roads and tall towers. I think with so many MNCs setting up shop here, Noida is already there. If you compare Noida to other West UP cities like Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Muzaffarnagar, it dwarfs them all in terms of roads, transport, education, industry, civic facilities, and jobs. These cities might need the push but Noida is clearly doing well on its own. I say if we can take care of crime and traffic, Noida is pretty smart already."

Noidawallahs say it's only logical to not treat their city as an emerging city. Tushar, a law student at Amity, says, "Noida is more similar to Delhi and Gurgaon than a Lucknow or Meerut. I'd say we should be happy that the authorities feel Noida can develop without this push, kyunki apna shehar toh already smart hai." Ranjit Singh, a businessman, adds, "Resources, manpower, and investment opportunities - Noida already has what a city needs to become a global city. There are a number of top colleges and schools here, companies are lining up to open offices here, the transport network is good, and real estate is booming. It is a self-sufficient city, and all the requirements of a household or individual can be met here."


The Chief Development Officer of Gautam Budh Nagar says, "I'd say Noida is already a smart city. Look at the infrastructure of this place, the investment opportunities and the development taking place and you shall see that it is already on the path of becoming a world-class city"  

Source - TOI