Chhattisgarh will now witness total convergence of three major and highly ambitious Centrally-sponsored urban development schemes in the days ahead.

As per a detailed note issued by the Union Urban Development Ministry, out of the 9 states under consideration, there is total convergence of housing, AMRUT and Smart City Missions in respect of Chhattisgarh (2 smart and 9 Amrut cities), Jammu & Kashmir (1 and 3), Kerala (1 and 7), MP (7 and 32), Odisha (2 and 9), Rajasthan (4 and 28), Telangana (2 and 11).

This in effect means, 25 of the 26 smart cities in these 9 states are also covered under AMRUT and Housing missions as well and 123 AMRUT cities under housing mission, it stated.

Only in case of Gujarat, there is a degree of deviation. One of the 6 smart city aspirants identified only Dahod does not figure in the 30 cities and towns so far identified for housing projects. 11 of 30 Amrut cities viz.,Bolad, Godhra, Goudal, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Nadiad, Morvi, Palanpur, Porbandar, Veravel and Surendranagar-Dudhrej are still to be included in the housing list.

Notably, in Chhattisgarh, Raipur and Bilaspur made it to the Centre’s ‘Smart Cities Mission’ among the list of 98 cities selected across the country .

Union Ministry of Urban development selected Raipur with population 10,47,389 and Bilaspur 3,65, 579 98 as cities eligible for being nominated for the ‘Smart Cities Mission’.

Under JNNURM, it was different things for different cities and towns. Some got water supply projects, some solid waste ones, some buses and a few got housing schemes. As a result, nothing much to show.

Close on the heels of announcing 98 smart cities by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on August 27  this month, the Ministry of Housing and Urban poverty Alleviation, also headed by Naidu came out with a list of 305 cities and towns for building houses for urban poor.

Earlier this month, Urban Devemlopment Ministry has identified 482 cities and towns, each with a population of one lakh and above as AMRUT cities for ensuring basic infrastructure like water connections to all urban households, sewer connections and septage management, storm water drains, urban transport etc.

From the three lists firmed up so far, a clear pattern of convergence emerges, much to the delight of the government. An integrated look at the three lists bears out this pattern of clear convergence.

The 9 states that have identified 305 housing cities and towns, also account for 26 of the 99 smart cities(including either Jammu or Srinagar, when the State government firms up its choice between these two) and 136 of 482 AMRUT cities and towns as well.

Of these, urban poor housing projects will be taken up in 25 smart cities along with 123 AMRUT cities bringing out clear convergence that enables pooling of funds and integration of action plans. Affordable housing is an integral part of smart city initiative which focuses on inclusive development.

Identification of cities for housing projects depends on demand situation and prioritization in terms of number of poor and slum dwellers in a city/town. It may be possible, as Gujarat identified more cities for housing in due course, these may be covered based on demand assessment)

Other Amrut cities to be identified for housing projects are- Adityapur in Jhankhand and Dewas in MP.

The Chhattisgarh Government had earlier approved the proposals for Raipur and Bilaspur cities sent by the respective municipal corporations to be sent to the Centre for inclusion in the ‘Smart City’ project development list.

The proposals were approved in a high-level Governing Committee headed by Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand under the Smart City Mission based on the available public amenities and parameters set by the Centre claimed in the proposals for the two cities to be included in the 'Smart City' development list.

Except Chirmiri, all the 12 municipal corporations in Chhattisgarh had presented their claims for inclusion in the Centre’s ‘Smart City’ project list, officials stated.

The State Government thereafter selected Raipur and Bilaspur to develop as ‘Smart Cities’ under the Centre’s ‘Mission Smart City’ during the next four years.

The State Urban Development Authority (SUDA) would be the Nodal Agency for the ‘Smart City’ project.

Smart City Mission Director and SUDA CEO Dr Rohit Yadav had stated that under the Mission Smart City guidelines, two Smart Cities are to be developed in Chhattisgarh based on the urban population.

After the examination of the proposals by experts on urban development, the cities of Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Bhilai were jointly given the first preference, Birgaon was given second preference, Korba third and Dhamtari was given fourth preference.

After finding equal weightage for the first four cities, the facilities provided by municipal corporations of  Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Bhilai were evaluated in a scientific manner in which approval was granted to send names of Raipur and Bilaspur to the Centre as proposals to be developed as ‘Smart Cities’, he said.

Meanwhile, on July 30 the State Urban Administration and Development Minister  Amar Agrawal had stated that although the Central Government would allocate two 'Smart Cities' to Chhattisgarh, the State Government has decided to develop all the other 11 municipal Corporations-run cities on the pattern of 'Smart Cities'.

The infrastructure will be upgraded, convenient transport will be provided, people's participation, good governance, health and education, e-Governance, healthy environment, adequate drinking water facilities, waste disposal management and sanitation and low-cost housing for poor are some of the proposals to develop the other 'Smart Cities', he said.

The Centre had launched 'Amrut Mission' in 500 towns whose population is above one lakh. The Mission will benefit Chhattisgarh also, Agrawal said.

The State Government had selected two cities-Raipur and Bilaspur, after a lot of debate and competition, Agrawal said.

There are 13 parameters on the basis of which 'Smart Cities' are selected. A total of eleven municipal corporations had sent their proposals. The concerned authorities after taking into consideration various issues,  it was decided to send the names of two cities to the Centre, he said.