Four ‘Smart Cities’ expected to be developed in AP

Andhra Pradesh is expected to get the Center’s approval for the development of four Smart cities. This is as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal to develop 100 ‘Smart Cities’ in India at an estimated expenditure of about Rs 7 lakh crores, within the next seven years . This was contrary to the Andhra government’s proposal to develop 14 Smart cities and three mega cities, with funding from the Center. Among these, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Nellore are expected to get the Center’s approval for being developed into smart cities.

What to expect from Smart Cities?

While the Center is still deliberating on the guidelines to be included in the ‘smart city’ concept, the Andhra government is leaving no stone unturned to come up with a detailed project report on the prospective smart cities that would eventually be allotted to it. Besides industrial and urban development, smart cities will be bestowed with an assortment of advanced facilities. They include improved connectivity within as well as inter-connectivity to other cities and towns, world-class infrastructure development as well as provision for various other facilities. Development of industrial and business hubs across the city as well as various urban development measures are expected to get top priority.

Urban and Mass Rapid Transport facilities are also expected to be given due importance in developing smart cities. Provision for a wide and extensive transport network including all possible modes of transport is expected to be implemented. International and domestic airports, Metro rail, BRTS and Ring Roads are expected to be developed. Other facilities likely to be implemented are IT-enabled services, usage of alternate sources of energy for public facilities like street lighting, uninterrupted power and water supply, proper drainage and sewage facilities, solid waste management facilities including re-cycling wherever possible, dynamic traffic signalling system using CCTV cameras, and Wi-fi connectivity, to name a few.

Focus on Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam being a port city with many important infrastructure facilities has tremendous potential in terms of being developed into a smart city. This is despite the fact that Vijayawada is declared as the capital of the State. In fact, Vijayawada was preferred ahead of Vizag due to its central location in the State as well as the availability of large parcels of government land in its vicinity. Incidentally, Vizag is one of the three cities along with Ajmer and Allahabad that have been identified as prospective smart cities with financial assistance from the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to the US was successful in getting an assurance in this regard. Moreover, Tirupati and Nellore have been highlighted as future smart cities due to the immense potential they offer in terms of being religious and commercial hot spots.