‘Kohima Smart City on its way towards comprehensive development’

A partial view of Kohima. The Ministry of Urban Development has released a total of Rs 111 crore so far for Kohima Smart City. (Photo credit: Amen Longchari)

A partial view of Kohima. The Ministry of Urban Development has released a total of Rs 111 crore so far for Kohima Smart City. (Photo credit: Amen Longchari)

Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 14

Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) administrator Kovi Meyase today informed that the Ministry of Urban Development has released a total of Rs. 111 crore so far for Kohima Smart City. Rs 2 crore was also released as advance for preparation of Kohima Smart City proposal. 

As per the guidelines, the state should contribute a matching share ie 50% of the central release. The state has released Rs. 2 crore as state matching share for the Administrative & Office Expenses (A&OE) fund.

Informing this during the technical session of one day media workshop “Vartalap” organized by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting here at Eastgate Hotel, Meyase said that Wapcos has been appointed as the Project Management Consultants (PMC) for Kohima smart city on October 10, 2018 at an amount of Rs 10.19 crore and the contract agreement was signed on November 22, 2018.

The smart city fund for Kohima (central & state) stands at Rs 996.46 crore (50% state share & 50% central share), convergence (central/state/others) at Rs 197.71 crore, debt (loan/bank/multilateral), bond) at Rs 409.00 crore and PPP at Rs 190.99 crore.

Meyase said the purpose of the smart cities mission is to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of people by enabling local area development and harnessing technology, especially technology that leads to smart outcomes.

Area-based development will transform existing areas (retrofit and redevelop), including slums, into better planned ones, thereby improving liveability of the whole city, he said.

He said that new areas (Greenfields) will be developed around cities in order to accommodate the expanding population in urban areas, adding that application of smart solutions will enable cities to use technology, information and data to improve infrastructure and services.

“Comprehensive development in this way will improve quality of life, create employment and enhance incomes for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, leading to inclusive cities,” KMC administrator said.

Kohima got selected as smart city on September 20, 2016 during the second round of the competition.

Kohima Smart City Development Ltd (KSCDL) was incorporated on March 24, 2017 under the Companies Act 2013.

As per the Smart City Mission Guidelines, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for KSCDL was constituted on March 9, 2017. The SPV will plan, apprise, approve, release funds, implement, operate, monitor and evaluate the smart city development projects, said Meyase.
 
SPV approves 7 projects
The SPV of Kohima Smart City has approved seven projects for the first phase.

Work for beautification of Kohima town (phase 1) with project cost of Rs 10. 58 crore is in progress.

Other projects in progress include- multilevel parking at Old NST with project cost of Rs 28.79 crore,  multilevel parking at old Medical Directorate with project cost of Rs 31.21 crore, redevelopment of Old Assembly Secretariat (Phase-1) at Rs 4.51 crore and Kohima Smart City and KMC office with a total project cost of Rs 1.32 crore. Meyase informed that DPR have been approved for cultural hall Kohima at the project cost of Rs 36.22 crore.

Setting up of Wi-Fi in Kohima town with a project cost of Rs 4.00 crore have also been approved.

Multilevel parking at Old NST will feature office and six bus bays on ground level, floor level 1- 15 car parking, floor 2- 15 car parking, floor level 3- 15 car parking, floor level 4- 15 car parking and floor level 5- 15 car parking.

Multilevel parking at old Medical Directorate features ground level- shop, floor level 1- 24 car parking, floor level 2- 51 car parking, floor level 3- 51 car parking, floor level 4- 26 shops and floor level 5-26 shops. 

Meanwhile, with the objective of providing another opportunity to smart cities in India to share their achievements, experiences and learning with each other, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs in association with NDMC Smart City is organizing 2nd National Apex Conference of Smart City CEOs on February 26-27 at New Delhi.

The conference will have plenary sessions with key announcements/launch programmes for various innovative and important initiatives under the Smarty Cities Mission.