Vizag, Tirupati and Kakinada, chosen to represent Andhra Pradesh in the Smart City Challenge conducted by the Union Government, scored over the other cities in the state by virtue of their better performance on crucial parameters, such as JNNURM execution, basic services and online grievance redressal.
These three cities were among 13 municipal corporations that submitted their proposals to the State Government hoping to represent Andhra Pradesh in the all-India competition of cities. This was stage-I of the competition, which was held within the state.
Vizag, Kakinada and Tirupati will now head into the second stage of the competition, in which 100 cities from across the country will present their smart credentials. These state-level winners will have to submit their smart city proposals within 100 days and be rated against the others in the competition.
Andhra Pradesh’s entries will have to impress an international panel of experts in December with their vision for water supply, traffic management, revenue collection, e-governance and other aspects. After evaluation of the 100 cities, 20 smart city contestants will be picked for funding in the first phase. The cities will be free to engage consultants to submit their proposals.
The 80 cities left out at stage-II of the competition will have to go back and rework on their proposals, sources said.
Vizag, Kakinada and Tirupati stand a good chance of making it in stage-II because of their performance under JNNURM and their inherent advantages: while Vizag and Kakinada are port cities, Tirupati is a major pilgrimage centre and is strategically located close to an industrial corridor.
If the three cities make the cut in the final round, they stand to receive Rs. 500 crore each over the next three to four years.
But the other cities that did not make it to stage II of the competition need not lose heart as they will be funded under the AMRUT scheme.
