Just 23% of the smart city projects have been completed so far by Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL).
However, according to Vinayak Sugur, chief engineer, BSCL, there are no projects in the tendering stage at the moment and all the ongoing projects are works in progress.
“We have 46 projects in the Central Business District area and out of these, we have completed 11 projects so far. As many as 18 projects, which are mostly road infrastructure works, are nearing completion too. If one looks at the physical progress percentage and financial progress, almost 90% of the work on these 18 projects is completed. For instance, we have completed all the work on Millers Road except a 50-metre stretch,” said Sugur.
As per data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Bengaluru received the lowest amount of funds so far compared to other cities in Karnataka under the National Smart Cities Mission. While the city has received Rs 292 crore funds from the Centre up until now, other cities in the state such as Davangere, Tumakuru and Belagavi have been allotted Rs 392 crore each, whereas Hubli-Dharwad, Shivamogga and Mangaluru received Rs 294 crore each.
Out of the total funds received, Bengaluru has utilised Rs 219 crore.
Based on assessments across various parameters such as work completed, fund transfer and utilisation, project work ordered, and average three months expenditure, Centre had ranked Bengaluru at the 48th position in the most recent smart cities ranking in 2022.
“A certain number of points are awarded based on fund utilisation. We have received fewer points in this category compared to the other cities in the state as we were selected in the third round. However, other cities were selected in the first and the second round and thus they have received more funds,” said a BSCL official.
We were selected in the third round of the Smart Cities Mission in 2018; our initial ranking was 74…We will complete all projects by July 2023. — Vinayak Sugur, chief engineer, BSCL
Experts said underutilisation of funds means that most benefits of the smart cities mission have barely reached the people on the ground. However, BSCL officials pointed out the city has improved ranking compared with its baseline rank in 2018.
“We were selected in the third round of the Smart Cities Mission in 2018 and our initial ranking was 74. Presently, based on performance, work order, the progress of the project and fund transfer and utilisation, we are standing at the 48th position. We will complete all the projects by July 2023,” added Sugur.
The rankings included the top 100 smart cities in the country for the year.
The number one spot in the list was occupied by Surat, followed by Udaipur, Varanasi and Agra on the second, third and fourth spots respectively.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Garima Prasher
Quelle/Source: Bangalor Mirror, 08.05.2022
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