NAREDCO lauds Centre's plan to include 13 new cities to smart cities' lists

NAREDCO President Parveen Jain said that the concept of smart cities would lead to well planned urbanization with aesthetic beauty comparable to international standards.

Jain said that NAREDCO, the apex body of builders and developers, sees immense opportunities for the real estate industry in transforming the cities likes Lucknow, New Town in Kolkata, Bhagalpur, Dharamsala, Chandigarh, Faridabad, Raipur, Ranchi, Warangal, Agartala, Imphal, Port Blair and Panaji into smart cities.

Selected through a transparent process, these cities have huge potential to grow into modern smart cities, Jain said, adding further that these cities are also potential tourists’ destinations.

With the latest technological advancements and modernization in construction sector, the realty sector is fully equipped to undertake any task in a time bound manner, said Jain. 

Each city will be given Rs 500 crore by the Centre over a period of five years with states matching this with their contribution.

“The scope of work covered in Smart City package will benefit all segments of society including poor and enhance their life style with best services available," Jain said. 

Traditional cities with unauthorized colonies, JJ clusters, poor transportation, inadequate water and electricity supply, narrow roads, lanes and by-lanes are going to transform rapidly, after the smart city plan is implemented.

Meant to change the life style of urban India, smart cities will ensure uninterrupted power and water supply, sewerage and solid waste disposal, internet connectivity, e-governance along with good quality infrastructure. It will ensure that basic amenities are available to every house hold irrespective of area, cost or community, Jain said.

Since land is State subject, State governments have selected cities based on the score for their capacity to carry out urban reforms. They should now open “single window project clearance mechanism” to hasten approvals and fast track development of smart cities, in time bound manner, Jain said.