Smart City Mission seeks Rs. 6,400-cr funds

In the second year of the Smart Cities Mission, the Urban Development Ministry has sought Rs. 6,400-cr more funds to complete the work in 60 cities, currently in different stages of implementing the program. With this demand, the ministry is looking to increase its outlay by nearly 80% and in this connection, the Urban Development Ministry has written to the Finance Ministry that the outlay of Rs. 3,600-cr for the current fiscal is insufficient and needs to be increased to Rs. 10,000-cr at the revised estimates stage, terming the enhanced outlay -critical funding over the next four months. Of the 100 cities under the mission, 20 were selected last year through the 'India Smart Cities Challenge'. In the second year, these 20 cities need to be given Rs. 100-cr each by the Centre. This translates into a commitment of Rs. 2,000cr. This year, a second fast track round was conducted to choose 13 cities, which needs to be given Rs. 200-cr each, or Rs. 2,600-cr in all. The last round, concluded in September, threw up another 27 cities, which again need Rs. 200-cr each, or support amounting to Rs. 5,400cr. The total outlay should be of Rs. 10,000cr, but the mission has earmarked only Rs. 3,600-cr and there is a shortfall of Rs. 6,400cr, said UDM ministry sources.