VISAKHAPATNAM: Smart city works are picking up pace in Vizag. The US-based Consultancy, AECOM, which is Project Management Consultant (PMC) for smart city works is conducting study over “Smart Streets”, in several areas in the Old Town. The AECOM team is meeting several departments like traffic, electricity and a few others for the study.
The “Smart Streets” initiative, one of the important projects of ‘Smart City’, aims to provide facilities, transportation and all basic needs with clean and neat environment. A study is being conducted to beautify some areas of the zone (Jagadamba region-Siripuram-Kailasagiri) which were selected by the citizens of Vizag through polls in 2015. Jagadamba junction to Kurupam Market, Jagadamba to Naval Coastal Battery via the Collectorate and Naval Coastal Battery to Park Hotel junction have been selected for the first phase.
The Smart Streets initiative is to provide cycling tracks, pedestrian foot-paths, complete CCTV surveillance, uninterrupted electricity and good roads. Opinions are being collected from the departments concerned on how to proceed and suggestions are also being taken by the consultancy for hassle-free procedure.
GVMC sources said that a few roads have to be re-engineered for the cycling tracks and foot-paths. “Most of the roads have foot-paths. Both foot-paths and cycle tracks would have greenery. For every 250-odd metres in normal junctions and 100 metres in hospital zone, there will be a pedestrian crossing area,” said a GVMC official, explaining the Smart Streets. Besides, Smart poles will be erected and officials will make sure that parking spaces are provided in good number. Most of the wires will be laid underground.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-Traffic) K Mahendra Patrudu said, “CCTV surveillance and parking issues will be sorted out as far as traffic department is concerned. We would have technically advanced Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras and signalling system would be perfect.”
It was also learnt that some traffic islands and junctions in major areas have to be re-designed to bring down traffic chaos and for smooth traffic. Moreover, unauthorised encroachments will be removed.
Once the study is complete, the estimated cost would be finalised for the smart streets. GVMC sources said that some more projects are being initiated and are said to be in the projectivisation stage. It may be recalled that around eight projects were grounded last year by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The Central government sanctioned `394 crore for the works of the smart city and the civic body has floated Request for Proposals (RFPs),” said an official.