BJP-ruled states outperform in implementing Smart City plans

BJP-ruled states are doing well from others in embracing the Centre's Smart City mission with five cities -- Nagpur, Indore, Surat, Vadodara and Udaipur-emerging among the top ones implementing the projects.

Ahead of the completion of two years of the mission in June, these cities have achieved an Investment Conversion Ratio (ICR) of 90 per cent and above, according to an analysis of the implementation of smart city projects.

ICR indicates the percentage of funds currently being used at the ground level for implementing the projects as against the funds approved by the Centre. The Urban Development Ministry has approved smart city plans of 60 cities so far. 

20 cities announced for the mission in January last year, followed by 13 in May and another 27 in September. Indore, Surat, and Udaipur were among the first batch of 20cities announced in January last year. 

Nagpur and Vadodara, despite being selected in September last year, got into top league within a short span, an official said. The first batch of 20 cities, with a total approved investment of Rs 48,064 crore, is set to achieve an ICR of 49 per cent by June this year. The ICR of the 13 announced in May is about 4 per cent and 21 per cent in the case of 27 cities announced in September. 

A total investment of Rs 1,31,762 crore has been approved for the 60 cities. The performance of first batch in implementation of smart city plans is encouraging, though some of them, particularly, the southern cities need to pick up momentum, an official said. 

The southern cities are Kochi (Kerala), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Davanagere (Karnataka), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Belagavi (Karnataka) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, however, is progressing well with an ICR of 55 per cent.

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