Rs 3732 cr projects at work order stage in Jammu, Srinagar
*Centre fixes target of June 2023 for SCM implementation
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 8: Over 120 Smart Cities projects worth Rs 3057 crore have been completed in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir while as Rs 3732 crore projects are at work order stage in Jammu and Srinagar, which are being developed under Smart Cities Mission of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
As per the official information available with EXCELSIOR, at present no project is at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage either in Jammu or in Srinagar while as four projects worth Rs 1233.03 that too of Jammu Smart City are at the tender stage.
However, a total of 192 projects worth Rs 3732.18 crore are at work order stage. Of these, 73 projects worth Rs 1846.94 crore are of Jammu Smart City Ltd while as 119 projects having estimated cost of Rs 1885.24 crore are to be executed by Srinagar Smart City Ltd.
As per the data, 122 projects worth Rs 3057.71 crore have been completed under the Smart City Mission. Of these, 56 projects are in Jammu and 66 in Srinagar. A total of 318 projects worth Rs 8022.92 crore have to be completed in Jammu and Srinagar Smart Cities.
“As several projects under both the Smart Cities are yet to be completed by the respective Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is required to put in extra efforts so that target of implementation of Smart Cities Mission is completed well within the timeline of June 2023”, official sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Smart Cities Mission Governments and Smart Cities to adopt best practices while implementing projects. The projects under the Mission incorporate smart elements, appropriate design standards, standards for technology like communication infrastructure, data systems and Internet of Things (IoT) etc. In this regard, Model Request for Proposals (RFPs), model policies, Standard Operating Procedures, guidelines for project implementation are issued by the Mission from time to time.
As less than one year has been left for completion of all the pending projects, the Government has already directed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited for timely planning, implementation, operation, monitoring and evaluation of their Smart City projects.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while laying foundation stone of various Smart City projects in Srinagar in the month of April this year, had maintained that his administration is taking effective steps to accelerate the mission for inclusive and sustainable growth in the cities and issued explicit directions to the concerned officials to ensure completion of the projects within the stipulated timelines.
He had stated that efforts are underway to make public places more friendly to people and to make the system of roads and transport better and smarter. After the completion of these projects, better facilities will be available to the people in both the cities.
“Even Union Territory level High Powered Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta is monitoring the implementation of projects by the Special Purpose Vehicles”, sources informed.
At the national level, implementation of SCM is being regularly monitored by an Apex Committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Nominee Directors of MoHUA on the Boards of SPVs monitor progress in respective cities on a regular basis. The Ministry regularly monitors States/Smart Cities through video conferences, review meetings, field visits, regional workshops etc at various levels to assess the performance of cities and handhold them for improving the same.
The Smart Cities Mission guidelines stipulate the SPVs to monitor and review quality control related matters and act upon issues arising thereof. SPVs appoint third party agencies/academic institutions to check quality of works as needed.
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