Ujjain: For the ‘Smart City Mission’, the Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC) has finalised a consultant who will prepare the Smart City. A special committee of the headed by chief engineer Hansraj Jain and other officials has been formed to overlook the project.
The UMC will soon start the process for second phase of the Smart City in which views of the local residents will be sought. As per the directions of the Centre, the UMC has been asked to encourage people’s participation before drafting the DPRs (detailed project reports) of various development projects to provide a better living to the local residents. This development plan has to be submitted to the Centre by December 15.
The Smart City project has been conceptualised as citizen-driven, achieved through consultations with citizens which will include participation of groups of people such as residents welfare associations, senior citizens, experts from different fields and, not to forget, the slum dwellers.
The idea behind launching of these facilities and initiatives is to prepare a vision for the city which has to come out of the needs, aspirations and wishes of the local people to make their city more liveable. The Centre will release funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore (Rs 100 crore to be released for every five years). Besides, the state government and the MC, too, would have to incorporate an equal sum on an equal 50:50 participation basis.
Municipal Commissioner Avinash Lavania said, a vision document would be prepared after getting the feedback from the local residents and various stake holders, including social activists, industrialists, teachers, architects and others. The UMC would be reaching the residents soon through its electronic or print communication or even by holding an open discussion. The initiative would also be publicised through the print media, television, the radio and Internet. The residents can share their views, ideas and opinions on how to make Ujjain a Smart City. These viewpoints would help formulate citizen-centric solutions on the basis of which the policies could be drafted. Lavania said there were around 24 features of the Smart City scheme which included economy, employment, health, education, open spaces, housing, transportation,
IT connectivity, intelligent government service, walk-able pedestrian paths, water supply, waste-water management, underground electricity wiring, energy efficiency, sanitation, municipal solid waste management, and air quality and safety. On the area-based development, we are short listing areas and will soon start holding meetings with the residential and trading associations. To further generate public interest, we will acknowledge those who provide us with the best suggestions, Lavania said.
