NEW DELHI: After unveiling a list of 98 cities that would be part of the ambitious Smart Cities project, the Ministry of Urban Development on Thursday has sanctioned Rs 194 crore for 96 cities in the project. “Of the 98 smart city candidates selected so far, funds will be sanctioned soon by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Union Territories of Delhi and Chandigarh,” the ministry said. Each city will be given Rs 2 crore at this stage.
Urban Development Minister M Venakaiah Naidu sanctioned orders to 38 smart city representatives from 11 states, who attended the Regional Workshop in Delhi.
“Smart City plans will be evaluated in the second stage of City Challenge competition based on consultations and their economic and environmental impacts,” he said.
The minister said that up against central assistance of a meagre Rs 36,000 crore provided under the ten-year long JNNURM launched by the previous UPA regime, the current NDA-led Centre has committed to spend over Rs 3 lakh crore on urban development during the next five to six years.
Transfer of divisible revenue to the States has been increased by a whopping 10 per cent, besides enhanced assistance of Rs 64,032 crore to urban local bodies over the next five years, he said.
Later in the day, funds were transferred electronically to the respective states and Union Territories.