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Amaravati’s ‘Smart’ chances brighten

May 25, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 07:26 am IST - VIJAYAWADA

: Amaravati, the new Capital city of Andhra Pradesh, found its way into the fresh list of cities competing for the Smart City status in the next round.

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In a way this qualification came as a pleasant surprise as Amaravati is still in the conceptual stage and what is being built now is officially described as “temporary,” including the interim Secretariat.

Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday made the announcement while releasing the list of 13 more cities that will be developed under the Centre’s Smart City mission. Lucknow topped the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, followed by Warangal in Telangana which had made its grouse open when it did not find any of its cities in the first list released in February.

Amaravati is among the seven capital cities others being Patna, Shimla, Naya Raipur, Itanagar, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, which will now be able to participate in the next round of competition, the Union Minister said.

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When contacted, Municipal Administration Director Kanna Babu explained that AP got its share if criterion for selection of the smart cities were to be considered.

Percentage-wise also, A.P. got more in the first round as two cities were selected. The smart city plan for Tirupati would be submitted by June. Consultants were also hired for it. AP would have its three smart cities if Tirupati was selected in next phase. The smart cities are given based on urban population and number of ULBs in the State. The other states like Madhya Pradesh got more smart cities as they have more urban population, he said.

AP walked away with two 'smart cities' projects in first instance.

While Viskhapatnam stood eighth, Kakinada secured the 14th rank in the first 20 list released in February, out of the shortlisted 100 cities.

Centre releases

the list of 13 more

cities to be

developed under Smart City mission

Amaravati, the new Capital city of Andhra Pradesh, found its way into the fresh list of cities competing for the Smart City status in the next round.

In a way this qualification came as a pleasant surprise as Amaravati is still in the conceptual stage and what is being built now is officially described as “temporary,” including the interim Secretariat.

Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday made the announcement while releasing the list of 13 more cities that will be developed under the Centre’s Smart City mission. Lucknow topped the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, followed by Warangal in Telangana which had made its grouse open when it did not find any of its cities in the first list released in February.

Amaravati is among the seven capital cities others being Patna, Shimla, Naya Raipur, Itanagar, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, which will now be able to participate in the next round of competition, the Union Minister said.

When contacted, Municipal Administration Director Kanna Babu explained that AP got its share if criterion for selection of the smart cities were to be considered.

Percentage-wise also, A.P. got more in the first round as two cities were selected. The smart city plan for Tirupati would be submitted by June. Consultants were also hired for it. AP would have its three smart cities if Tirupati was selected in next phase. The smart cities are given based on urban population and number of ULBs in the State. The other states like Madhya Pradesh got more smart cities as they have more urban population, he said.

AP walked away with two 'smart cities' projects in first instance.

While Viskhapatnam stood eighth, Kakinada secured the 14th rank in the first 20 list released in February, out of the shortlisted 100 cities.

Centre releases the list of 13 more cities to be developed under Smart City mission

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