Vizag to soon begin the second phase of Smart City study

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) plans to soon begin the second phase of studies related to developing Vizag as a smart city, informed GVMC commissioner M Hari Narayanan.

Narayanan, while participating in the third BRICS Urbanisation Forum in the city, said the United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) had come forward to offer financial assistance following which the first phase of studies was completed and the second phase would be initiated soon. He stated that preparations to turn Vizag into a smart city are being taken up in a phased manner.

He added that the city had already taken a major step by receiving nearly four lakh suggestions as part of the smart city challenge and is the first in the country to implement 100% LED streetlights.

Speaking on the occasion, AP urban infrastructure and asset management CEO Prakash Gaur said that a per capital investment of Rs 10,000 per year in urban areas is required to improve infrastructure. In all, an investment of Rs 53,000 crore is required over the next four years, he added.

During a discussion on ???Financing Urban Infrastructure,??? the experts referred to the strong association between inequality in access to infrastructure and inequality in income in urban areas. They stressed upon the need to ensure effective urban governance supported by a strong political leadership and vision in order to enable cities to attract huge investments required for building infrastructure.

Source : Urbannewsdigest