Union Secretary reviews progress of Warangal Smart City project

Hyderabad, Feb.9: Union Joint Secretary Urban Development Sameer Sharma said the smart city idea was to create infrastructure so as to help urban areas grow and be a better place to live in.
Sameer Sharma held a meeting with the State government officials of Municipal Administration and Urban Department at the office of the MA&UD Commissioner today and reviewed the progress of the Warangal smart city project. He said the focus should be on resource mobilization by converging and integrating various other schemes.

Highlighting the importance and urgency by the Union government, Sharma said the Prime Minister was regularly reviewing the progress of the smart cities. He felt that urban sector has emerged as the major contributor of economic activity.

State Municipal Administration Secretary Navin Mittal, Commissioner T K Sridevi and other senior officials were present. Warangal Municipal Commissioner Sruti Ojha put up a presentation on various projects and facilities proposed under the smart city project. She said Bhadrakali lake development was being taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The priority was on developing livable neighborhoods, sanitation, smart mobility, green urbanization and systems integration.
During the discussion, Sameer Sharma asked the Commissioner to ensure that certain milestones in respect of the Warangal Smart City Project are achieved by June 25 this year. He felt that focus should be on promoting solar energy in a big way. He also suggested that the officials study the innovations and models adopted by certain cities like Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Dharmashala and Jabalpur.

 Later, Karimnagar Municipal Commissioner K.Shashanka presented the Karimnagar Smart City project plan.