Quick Update On Pune Smart City

Being one of the fastest growing cities of India, the expectations from Pune was really high when it was included in the smart city list. However, with policy delays and lack of interest from the political arena, some projects failed to take off while others that had started are running behind schedule. With Prime Minister is announcing incentives for municipal corporations for fast tracking the smart city projects, cities across the nation are conducting review meetings. The recently held meeting of Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (PSCDCL) where all the board of directors was present, revealed that the projects which were to be completed in July are yet to reach 50 per cent mark and a lot of them are yet to start.

Status so far

There were 52 projects which were slated to be developed under Pune Smart City Mission. Out of which, work on only five has started so far. Many of them are still awaiting approvals from the ministry while many have been scrapped due to issues. Some of the projects that were enlisted under Pune smart city plan includes new physical infrastructure, affordable housing, start up zone, river water cleaning, a transit hub and so on. Out of this, the target of providing internet connectivity in the entire city is still on hold as the agency appointed has not laid the optical fibers yet. The road infrastructure is yet to come up as the Aundh-Baner Link Road is still incomplete, gardens, LCD boards, buildings were other projects that are nowhere to be seen.

While the board is citing funding issues for the delay in project development, even the incomplete projects are not adequately funded for which the local leaders are taking the charge. Orders have been given to finish all of these projects on priority but what can actually be a deal breaker is those projects for which the detailed report has not been prepared yet.

High profile launch

Pune is the city where Prime Minister launched 14 high profile projects from Shiv Chhatrapati Sports complex which included water supply project. The Pune Municipal Corporation had launched bonds for development projects. While earlier the PSCDCL signed a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with the government of Britain, the US Treasury, ISRO and UN Global Compact, and European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) , there has been no mention of foreign support for the smart city project in the recent meeting held, as reported by media.

With failing deadlines time and again, the smart city projects are going the traditional way where the escalated project cost due to delays becomes a burden on civic authority.

Also read: Smart City Features That Are Already Around You