The Centre on Friday ruled out any relaxation in selection process of the smart cities under the Smart Cities Mission. Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha made it clear to the States when a few of them had cited inherent and legacy issues like economic backwardness and urban governance were proving to be the limitations in achieving the ‘Smart City’ tag.
“Smart City Challenge Competition and selection of cities is based mostly on the proposals for future development of cities and such limitations do not really affect their chances,” said Sinha while interacting with Municipal Commissioners of 97 cities included in the Smart Cities Mission and Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories on the implementation of Smart City Mission.
He emphasised the importance of urban sector, which has emerged as a major contributor of economic activity in a video conference.
Complimenting the 20 winners for coming top in the first round of Smart City Challenge Competition, he said it was fiercely contested based on comprehensive evaluation criteria.
Sinha said those who could not make to the first list need not be disappointed as they get two more opportunities to compete in the next few months.
The Cabinet Secretary informed the 23 States and Union Territories who were not represented in the first list announced on Thursday that they could participate in fast track competition by submitting upgraded smart city proposals of one top ranked city in each state and UT by April 15.
“The remaining 54 cities get to participate in round two of Smart City Challenge Competition, which is to begin on April 1, 2016.”
Some of cities admitted to possible inadequacies in respect of certain parameters like implementation frame work, credibility of financing plans, sustainable urban planning etc.