AGARTALA, June 16 (TIWN): Urban Development Minister Manik Dey surprisingly prefers to stay mum about Modi Govt's SMART City project as Agartala was selected under the 13 top urban cities which are now set for conversion into SMART city. Urban Development Minister Manik Dey while talking to TIWN expressed his lack of knowledge and actual plan to convert Agartala as SMART city. Regarding the steps which need to be taken by the state govt. to make Agartala into a SMART City, Minister said that presently nothing can be said in this issue . Manik Dey's reluctance of divulging any details about smart city project raises doubt about Tripura Govt's plans. Manik Dey is holding various portfolios in state, but every department under him allegedly involved into massive corruptions. Power / TSECL ., Transport Department, Urban Development and Rural Development - all key ministries are suffering due to nepotism, party cadres run corruptions and mismanagements like non-payment of hundreds of crores dues to power plant like NEEPCO, OTPC.In the beginning, Manik Dey showed much interest in this SMART City project, but presently state govt lacks due to some unknown reason.

But as soon as the central Govt. announced that Agartala city has been selected among top 13 SMART Cities, the state govt. showing disinterest into the project, and showing various reasons behind ‘Not To convert Agartala into a Smart City’.

When the central govt. announced that  the State-Central will share 50 : 50 of the SMART City budget, in  a conference Urban Development Minister Manik Dey told media that the state govt.of Tripura is unhappy about the 50 percent fund sharing proposal by state.

But question arises, whereas other states are ready to share fund for the sake of City upgradation, why Tripura Govt. is too much upset? From railway to NH-44 ---- central had poured the state govt with funds, but only for city upgradation when the govt. is asking for co-operation PWD Minister is now criticizing the Modi Govt. for launching the ‘SMART City’ idea.

Tripura PWD Minister Badal Choudhury recently expressed worries about the modern technology prescribed by the central govt. for makings SMART City as it may hurt people’s sentiment including shop-keepers to hawkers.

He also criticized the Modi Govt. and said that his ‘Unique’ SMART City project which will damage Tripura’s capital city’s view and this will be a kind of ‘Disrespect’ to the state Govt here who built up the town since decades.

It was said that meant to change the way urban India lives, smart cities will enjoy uninterrupted power and water supplies, internet connectivity, e-governance along with quality infrastructure.

The 13 cities have proposed total investment of Rs 30,229 crore.

But instead of praising the Modi Govt., CPI-M is just blaming the central govt. for its developmental initiatives.

But as Tripura lacks e-governance fully, so the state is facing hard time to upgrade the city and Tripura has been limited with the ‘Parking facility’ among all the SMART City facilities.

Moreover, here govt. will never spend a penny on Urban Development apart from looting Central funds and as the central has asked to share half of the budget, so the govt. is now unwilling to go forward and making various issued to keep Agartala city as undeveloped as now.