Vizag makes strong case for CITIIS 2.0 funding

Gears Up for Next Phase

• Rs 1,000 cr smart city project in Vizag is nearly finished
• GVMC’s efficient fund utilization in the past strengthens its CITIIS 2.0 application
• The city aims to be a leader in sustainability, healthy living, equality, and innovation
• Vizag ranked the 4th cleanest city in India for two consecutive yr

Visakhapatnam: Even as the Rs 1,000-crore smart city is on verge of completion, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), the largest urban civic body in Andhra Pradesh, is gearing up to get sanction and grant for City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0 project.

Visakhapatnam is one of the fastest growing cities with an international airport under construction by GMR Group at Bhogapuram, about 40 km from here at a cost of nearly Rs 5,000 crore. The city has two ports including a major port and two power plants in the vicinity with a robust industrial infrastructure. Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Area has an estimated 2.33 million population with a GDP of $165 billion.

An official of GVMC told Bizz Buzz on Tuesday that they are trying to complete the smart city project in the city by June, 2024, the deadline set for the initiative. Underground drainage, smart streetlights, beautification of parks with a new park for special children and augmenting sports infrastructure were taken up under the smart city mission. The city was adjudged the fourth cleanest city in India for second year in succession in the Pan India Swacchh Survekshan Survey.

CITIIS 2.0 is conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). It will be implemented over a period of four years with financial and technical support for 18 smart cities, climate action, interventions at national level to scale-up across all cities and towns. Under 1.0, Visakhapatnam was sanctioned for social inclusion through modernising 40 GVMC schools as smart campuses with a total cost of Rs 65 crore which included 80 per cent in the form of grant.

GVMC has made a strong bid for the current round of challenge for getting sanction for CITIIS 2.0 based on its track-record in utilisation of funds in the past. GVMC officials exude confidence of getting a grant for the CITIIS 2.0 so as to get grant boost up to Rs 135 crore.

The GVMC approach towards smart city planning for Visakhapatnam is centred around creating a resilient and healthy metropolis for people. The city is planned to become a leader in sustainability, healthy living, equality and innovation. The city is already successful by introducing LED lighting in the entire city thoroughfares with solar lamps at select locations. Under the Rs 1,000-crore smart city mission, the city has completed 57 of the 59 smart solution projects.