Karimnagar bids to become Smart City

Officials to present DPR to Union government in Delhi today

If selected to become a Smart City, Karimnagar town, which has been growing leaps and bounds, would be developed at a whopping cost of ₹1,878 crore.

The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK), which is competing to make it to the list Smart Cities, has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) which would be presented to the Union government in New Delhi on Thursday. Karimnagar MP B. Vinod Kumar, Mayor S. Ravinder Singh, and Municipal Commissioner K. Shashanka would meet the officials of the Ministry of Urban Development and make a presentation in a bid to become a Smart City.

Karimnagar has already been selected through a competitive process for the Smart Cities Mission of the Union government, but is now competing with 68 other cities from across the country to make it to the list by preparing a Smart City proposal.

As part of the same, it was decided to develop Karimnagar on all fronts in a phased manner. Initially, the busy Tower Circle would be redeveloped along with the vegetable market, where a cold storage of 5,000 metric tonnes would be set up as well as godowns and a ground plus first floor building. Commercial zones would be made pedestrian-friendly and the streets would be restructured. Heavy vehicles would be allowed into the Tower Circle area only from midnight to 2 a.m.

The RTC bus station complex would be redeveloped on 16 acres of land, which would have a commercial complex and 42 bus bays to handle 2,500 buses coming in and going out. Centres for Excellence would be set up at the bus station. Parks would be developed on 9.2 acre and the existing Circus grounds would be developed as a green promenade with open air theatre, space for exhibitions, gardens, jogging tracks, and open gyms.

Museum redevelopment

In order to encourage tourism, the iconic multi-purpose school building would be developed into a heritage structure. The existing museum would be redeveloped to showcase Karimnagar’s history and culture.

The proposal also includes 24/7 drinking water supply to each household. The MCK would encourage people to install rooftop solar panels to use non-conventional energy sources.

A cycle sharing system would be set up with 15 stations and 10 cycles at each station. Cycle tracks would be earmarked along all the R&B roads.