The AP government has decided to set up its own smart cities even as the Centre is seized of the ambitious plan to create 100 smart cities across the country. The AP smart cities will be independent of the Centre’s proposal to create modern infrastructure in select cities and towns.
The government has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as the overall consultant for the smart city project, which aims at creating seven smart cities.
Six months ago, the state government had sent a list of seven cities for inclusion in the Centre’s smart city list but, the latter is yet to take a decision on the proposal. The state’s proposal includes the capital region, Guntur, Tirupati and Rajahmundry.
The Centre is likely to take a decision on smart cities on June 25. However, the state government has decided to develop smart cities on its own. The government is involving international agencies to prepare master plans for the proposed smart cities. Visakhapatnam was earlier selected under the Indo-US project on smart cities.
SC Infra Limited has shown interest for the preparation of master plan for Nellore while Yokohoma city council will fund the project for Kakinada. Surbana, which is assisting the Singapore government on the master plan for the capital city, will take care of Amaravati. Astran Institute of Technology will extend support to Kurnool. The Ispat Group has plans to take up Tirupati as the smart city.
