The proposed transformation of Lutyens’ Delhi into a Smart City has electrified its residents. The promise of 24x7 water and electricity supply, wi-fi facility, happiness areas for social and cultural purposes, sensor-based common service utility and the likes are alluring. The Smart City project envisages development of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area. The agency has, however, been caught napping. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a company that will execute the project, has not been set up even three months after it was announced. Instead, smaller cities such as Bhubaneswar and Bhopal have marched ahead and have their SPVs in place. The SPV will plan, appraise, approve, release funds, implement, operate and evaluate the development projects.
Officials say that work in Delhi is stalled because of a delay in constituting the SPV, whose composition and norms are similar to that of NDMC. “Creating such a huge parallel structure with specific guidelines is not easy. Initially, we requested the Urban Development Ministry that since NDMC is quite similar to the norms set for the SPV, it should consider releasing funds on that basis. But the ministry rejected that and categorically asked for an SPV,” says an NDMC official.
Setting up of the SPV is linked to the release of the first trench of the Centre’s Rs 194 crore allocation for the project. According to NDMC, the SPV will be set up by May, and the work will start soon thereafter.
NDMC proposes to take everyone onboard for the project and include representations from the Delhi government, ministries of Home Affairs and Urban Development, and its own officials as board of directors in the SPV. The minimum requirement is three directors, with a maximum of 15, for the SPV.
NDMC has floated tenders for execution of certain projects under PPP mode, which will aid the success of the Smart Cities Mission. Officials say a request for proposals has been floated for 10 mini sewage treatment plants, five smart toilets and 67 water ATMs. The council will also fund a Rs 35 lakh bio-methanisation plant for treatment of food waste in Pilangi village within three months.
According to the officials, proposals are afoot to launch a mobile app for smart parking, enabling vehicle owners to book a spot in advance.
The Smart Cities Mission will cost Rs 2,761.97 crore. Of this, 32 per cent will be funded by NDMC, 26 per cent will come as the Smart City grant, 15 per cent will be raised through PPP funds and the remaining Rs 510.84 crore as convergence funds of various Centrally-sponsored programmes. No deadline, however, has been set for completion of the project.
Density of population: 7,000 people per square kilometre
The Road Not Travelled: how Lutyens’ Delhi Will transform
Turning the ndmc area into a Smart City will cost Rs 2,761.97 crore
Pain Points
■ Access to healthcare facilities and education
■ High levels of air pollution
■ Clean water supply
■ Severe traffic issues and road infrastructure
■ Uninterrupted power supply
NDMC Initiatives
■ Proposals have been invited for 10 mini sewage treatment plants in the area
■ Tenders have been issued for five smart toilets and 67 water ATMs
■ Proposal to commission a Rs 35-lakh bio-methanisation treatment plant of food waste in Pilangi village in three months
■ Proposal to be floated for providing last-mile connectivity with electric buses and autos from Metro stations to homes
■ A mobile application is being developed for smart parking through which people can book a vehicle parking spot in advance