Rs.1K-cr smart city project on verge of completion in Vizag

EVEN after several months of completing work on the prestigious multi-layer mechanised car parking project at the busy Jagadamba junction and giving a facelift to VMRDA Park developed on 55 acres of beachfront areas in the city, their inauguration awaits a VVIP.

If the two facilities, first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, are inaugurated, will mark completion of almost all the works undertaken under the Smart City Mission. The Centre and the State have earmarked Rs1,000 crore for the ambitious project, after forming Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL), a special purpose vehicle to implement it. At present, over 90 per cent work is completed.

The inauguration of a new-look VMRDA Park and new parking facility was originally planned for throwing open to the public in January after an inspection of the progress by Municipal Administration Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, which was later put off to August 13. A senior official of GVMC told Bizz Buzz that they were awaiting the consent from Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to inaugurate multi-layer parking at Jagadamba junction to enable parking of 100 cars in five corridors built at a cost of Rs 9.70 crore and new-look VMRDA-a favourite rendezvous for morning walkers, tourists as well as locals. It has a gym, yoga and meditation centre, boating facility, and skating rinks. Out of 55 acres, 37 acres has well sculpted lawns, hedge plants, ornamental and medicinal plants and 2,500 varieties of shade-bearing trees.

Under the smart city project, smart class rooms have been provided at government schools. Solar street lights have been provided with smart poles fitted with surveillance cameras. A system integrator has been created at a cost of Rs180 crore to offer smart city solutions and emergency action in the event of calamities and major accidents. The historic Town Hall and old municipality office near the fishing harbour have been renovated by involving heritage conservationists to give a glimpse of the city's glorious past. The United States has also extended its support for developing Visakhapatnam as a smart city. The city is one among 20 out of 100 cities and towns selected by the Centre in the first phase in 2016 to be developed as smart cities.