NEW DELHI, July 23:
The Government today said the project of development of 100 smart cities is under ‘’conceptual stage’’ and they will hold a discussion with State Governments before zeroing on the areas to be developed. Responding to a supplementary during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the project was currently at conceptual stage…contours were being worked out.
He said the Government would hold discussion with various stakeholders, including state Governments before formulating the final draft of the project.
In the Union Budget, the Government allocated Rs 7,060 crore for development of 100 smart cities across the country. The cities will be developed as satellite towns of larger cities and by modernising existing mid-sized cities. Responding to another supplementary about the provision of providing urban facilities in rural areas, Mr Naidu said in a lighter vein that he is currently an Urban Development Minister though had hold the portfolio of Rural Development Minister in the earlier regime of NDA Government. ‘’I have migrated from Rural to Urban Ministry,’’ he said amid a laughter from all sides in the House. However, he said he would convey the concerns about the services in rural areas to his colleague in Rural Development Ministry. (UNI)
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