Srinagar, Jammu in race for Smart City status

J&K’s twin capitals Srinagar and Jammu are in the competition to get shortlisted as Smart Cities under the Government of India’s ambitious programme, sources told  on Wednesday.

Informed sources said a high-powered Steering Committee (HPSC), constituted Wednesday, will decide on nominating one of the two cities for inclusion in the 100 Smart Cities programme of the GOI.

“The committee is holding its first meeting on August 5 in Srinagar,” they disclosed.

Officials of Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations have staked claim for inclusion of their respective cities in the programme on the basis of their eligibility.

“Srinagar is eligible to be shortlisted as the Smart City in J&K,” said SMC Commissioner TufailMatto.

His counterpart and Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner Soujanya Kumar said they are proposing Jammu for the program.

“We are submitting information sought by the administrative department on the matter,” he said.

J&K can only recommend one city to the Centre for the ambitious program as per the distribution worked out by the Union Ministry of Urban Development.

According to an order issued by General Administration Department on Wednesday, the High Powered panel headed by Chief Secretary will oversee the process of 1st stage intra-State competition for the smart cities mission program.

The Committee will oversee the competition on the basis of 1st stage criteria, the order reads.

“The city which will score more points from evaluation  criteria like  existing service levels, institutional systems/capabilities, self financing and track record and reforms will be recommended to the Union Ministry of Urban Development,” the sources said.

Under smart cities mission program, each selected city will get Rs 200 crore for the first year followed by Rs 100 crore every year for the next three years for development.

Pertinently, the 18 member High Powered Steering Committee has 10 members alone from the Housing and Urban Development Department headed by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh.