The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has given clearance for its contribution of Rs.62 lakh to the Golden Mile Project of CISCO Technologies, from its general funds in the council meeting held on Monday.
It is a Proof-of-Concept that the networking major is implementing on M.G. Road between Swaraj Maidan and Benz Circle in response to the Andhra Pradesh Government’s invitation to it to give a demonstration of a smart city model on the arterial road.
The Government’s initiative came after Vijayawada failed to fulfil the criteria that won for various other cities a place in the coveted first batch of smart cities in India.
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In Monday’s meeting, the municipal councillors approved the allocation of Rs.20 lakh for development of a city portal and Rs.42 lakh for setting up LED streetlights on the busy road.
No burden on people
Mayor K. Sridhar said, “It is a path-breaking initiative of the Government and the people need not be apprehensive of any financial burden on them as there are no such preconditions for rolling out the project.”
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Municipal Commissioner G. Veerapandian said that the VMC need not spend afresh on LED lights having completed nearly 80 per cent of the project. What remained to be done was installation of sensors that would make the LED lights smart.
The total sum of Rs.62 lakh has been provided in the 2016-17 Budget that was passed recently.
The major components of the Golden Mile Project are free round-the-clock Wi-Fi facility and networking of hospitals, schools, transportation (buses will be fitted with GPS) and other public utilities.
The total project cost is Rs.7.91 crore, of which the technology partner (CISCO) will contribute Rs.3.81 crore, State Government Rs.3 crore and A.P Information Technology and Communications Department Rs.48 lakh.
The A.P Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation will coordinate and supervise implementation of the project as its nodal agency.