650 crore works to transform ill-developed areas to start soon

Nagpur: Works of 52km tenderSURE at a cost of Rs650 crore to transform underdeveloped Pardi, Bharatwada, Punapur and Bhandewadi in East Nagpur under the Smart City project are set to begin from next month or even before.
Smart City special purpose vehicle — Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) — has issued work order and also entered into an agreement with Mumbai-based Shapoorji Pallonji Group last month.

To expedite the works, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis approved appointment of an arbitrator, who will look after land acquisition for the project, a couple of days ago. TenderSURE’s commencement will also mark beginning of execution of area-based development (ABD) concept under Smart City Project.

Under tenderSURE, 52km long utility works, including roads, bridges, stormwater drains, drinking water supply pipelines, streetlights, road dividers, footpaths as well as utility ducts for laying power cables and telecommunication companies’ optical fibre cables will be undertaken simultaneously. This will ensure all facilities to the people at a time and a digging-free area.

Another salient feature of tenderSURE will be dedicated bicycle tracks along the roads with a length of 52km. Width of roads varies from 12 to 18m and 24 to 32m.

An NSSCDCL official told TOI that Shapoorji Pallonji Group has been conducting survey of areas for the last one month. “Works at ground level are likely to start within 15 days and will be visible from next month,” he said.

East Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde told TOI that works will start from whichever area available with NSSCDCL. “It is the first-of-its-kind concept in he country where all the services will be facilitated for the people at the same time. Also, Nagpur is the first among all 99 Smart Cities to take up tenderSURE,” he said.

For tenderSURE, land belonging to 496 people and part of properties of 800 others is needed to be acquired.

The official said arbitrator will issue notices to all project-affected persons (PAPs) immediately after taking charge. “The arbitrator will acquire land land and it over to NSSCDCL. If needed, a tribunal will be appointed for land acquisition. But the works can begin in many parts even before acquiring private properties,” he said.

The arbitrator will also ensure acquisition of land reserved for other utilities like schools, playgrounds, gardens etc.

The PAPs will have no option but to hand over the land as the state government approved town planning scheme (TPS) for the project last month.

The target is to complete tenderSURE in 18 months. It can be possible due to availability of ample funds with NSSCDCL.