AGARTALA, June 26 (TIWN): PM Modi inaugurated the second round of SMART City projects after 1 year completion of SMART City initiatives on Saturday but Tripura Urban Development Minister Manik Dey is in dark about the latest developments about SMART City project developments resolving Agartala.
Marking the first anniversary of the announcement of the government’s flagship programme, Prime Minister on Saturday launched the ‘Smart City Mission’ projects from Pune’s 5,000-capacity Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex. Modi said, “Cities have the ability to digest/absorb poor people and that is why people from villages migrate to cities in large nos. “There was a time when urbanization was considered as a problem but I think urbanisation must be considered as an opportunity”, says Modi. Minister Manik while talking to TIWN on Saturday said that, “I don’t know anything about this issue, also I am not informed about any kind of video conference with PM Modi on SMART city programme’.

Reportedly, launching the execution of smart city project for 20 cities selected in the first round, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the plan rolling today in Pune.

Central Govt. announced that Agartala city has been selected among top 13 SMART Cities and also announced that  the State-Central will share 50 : 50 of the SMART City budget.

However, after the announcement about the need for States 50% funding, in  a conference led by Urban Development Minister Manik Dey told media that the State Govt is unhappy about the 50 percent fund sharing proposal of central govt..

The first lot of 20 smart cities was linked on this occasion through video-conferencing by the Prime Minister. These cities have proposed a total investment of Rs. 48,000 crore in area development and pan-city solutions. Prime Minister launched 14 projects at a programme presided by Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present on the occasion. Sixty-nine other such projects were also launched on the same day in other smart cities, entailing a total investment of about Rs. 1,770 crore.

A total of 83 projects were launched under the Smart Cities Mission across the country . 

But it seems that Tripura CPI-M Govt’s apathy might play spoilsport with SMART City status, as the Urban development Minister, PWD Minister allergic to contribute 50% State fundings to make Agartala a SMART City.