Smart city works fail to take off in temple city

Tirupati: The pilgrim city was selected as smart city in 2016 by the Union government, but not even single work has grounded so far in this connection. The Rs 1600 crore development project confined to only papers and computer-based power point presentations.

Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT), the main organisation for executing the smart city works has failed in grounding the works. State Government had set up a special purpose vehicle (SLPV ) to deal with the financial and administrative sanctions to the works. 

As part of this mega project, MCT has designed many advanced civic amenities. In the first phase, civic body engineers and consultancy agencies have prepared  project reports  for laying of underground cable network, construction of all-in-one command control centre linked with CC Cameras and to provide high end facilities like  24 hours wi fie, drinking water,  conversion of waste to energy plant.

For the last two years officials and consultancy agencies met several times and discussed on smart city projects but not finalised  how to bring the works. Three months ago, in the smart city executive committee meeting, Collector PS Pradyumna directed the officials to set the CC cameras in the city and central command control centre. 

Similarly, Pradyumna insisted the MCT officials   to start laying of underground electrical power supply cables in the important areas with a cost of around Rs 100 crores. Authorities aim is to remove  all open electrical power supply poles  in future. 

Officials have not started the Vinayak Sagar lake beautification works and water purification works. It is learnt that Collector had questioned the officials for the delay in taking up the works. He has also fixed dead lines to MCT to take up works before June 9.  

Social activist M Purushottam Reddy speaking to The Hans India criticised that officials have been giving  statements  over the smart city works in media. But in fact, even single work has not materialised. There was no civic representatives’ body for questioning the officials for their delay.