NMC to take Smart City plan to 8L beneficiary citizens

Nagpur: Over 8 lakh citizens will get a chance to express their views on the Smart City project. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is taking the plan to the citizens and will make them aware about the proposed works and benefits, while also seeking their suggestions and objections.
Meanwhile, a team from Agence Francaise de Development (French Development Agency) reached NMC on Tuesday.The four experts in urban planning and finance went through NMC’s plan submitted last year and the draft prepared for this year. The team also interacted with NMC engineers. Later, the team visited Mihan, Futala lake, Sitabuldi, Mahal and other areas.
The team will work on improving the plan along with NMC engineers from Wednesday for one week. It is part of the agreement executed between the central government and France for transforming the city into Smart City.
NMC had proposed projects worth Rs3,577.77 crore in the Smart City plan. The projects were divided into two components. Works of Rs223.29 crore were proposed for making the city clean and safe. These works will be executed across the entire city.
In the second component — Area Based Development — works to the tune of Rs3,351.38 crore were proposed in an area of 12 sq km covering 8 lakh population situated in East, South and North Nagpur. An area of 900 acres was selected at Pardi, Bharatwada and Punapur situated in East Nagpur, 900 acres in Nara and Nari in North Nagpur on Kamptee Road, and 900 acres at Manewada in South Nagpur.
NMC will execute works in these areas on land pooling and PPP model. The beneficiaries will have to share part of their property and also pay development charges. Due to model code of conduct last year, the NMC could not take views of beneficiary citizens at that time.
Mayor Pravin Datke told TOI that views of all citizens will be taken this time. “I have asked the administration to come up with a plan to interact with citizens, and explain the project and benefits. I believe the project can be successful only with participation of citizens. The plan will be submitted after going through all processes,” he said.
NMC has to submit the plan to the central government on or before June 30 to be eligible in second round of the contest. In the first round last fiscal, NMC could not make it to the list of 20 cities.
NMC will be one among 54 cities to participate in the second round. Only 40 cities will be selected this time.
Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar said suggestions and objections will also be invited from other citizens and experts. “The draft will be placed online and also in zone offices. Interested citizens and experts can go through it, and submit suggestions and objections,” he said.