Kozhikode and Thrissur, both aspirants for the Smart Cities Mission Project from the State, have been left out of the tentative list released by the Ministry of Urban Development.
It is learnt that both the cities have been competing with 20 other cities for the remaining 10 slots for the Centre’s flagship urban development programme. The Ministry had already selected 90 cities, including Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, for the mission.
The final list will be released shortly, official sources said.
Kozhikode had failed to make it to the initial list at the time of the Smart City Challenge in 2015. The delay in submission of proforma documents has been attributed to the exclusion.
At the same time, Thrissur had made it to the initial list.
However, all is not lost since the case of Kozhikode has been taken up at the highest level. Previously the Chief Minister’s Office had recommended Kozhikode as a special case since the city is the hub of north Kerala. This was followed up with a visit of Mrunmai Joshi, Corporation Secretary, to the Smart Mission Directorate in Delhi.
“Now we will have to give another representation to get into the final list. Kozhikode still has a chance,” Ms. Joshi told The Hindu on Tuesday.
About ₹25 lakh - ₹30 lakh is required to appoint a consultant for preparing the Vision Document that has to be presented to the Smart City Mission Directorate.
If Kozhikode is selected, the funds for this purpose will be automatically deposited in the account of the civic body.
She said that Kozhikode had strong international, national and intra-State transport linkages and was well connected by road, rail, air, and water to different parts of the country and the rest of the world, thereby facilitating easy movement of people, goods and services.
The city had strong presence in the education sector with prestigious institutes of higher learning such as the NIT and IIM as well as good health care facilities.
The selection of cities are based on their revenues, expenditure, availability of infrastructure pertaining to roads and transport, drinking water facilities, solid waste management, and housing. Besides, each smart city should offer economic activities and employment opportunities to a wide section of its residents, regardless of their level of education, skills, or income levels.
