Development planned with outlay of `1,600 cr

- Initially, woks worth Rs 1,000 crore will be taken up
- Battery operated e-rickshaws to be acquired to collect garbage from households
- Various parks in city to be developed

Tirupati: Smart city development project works, with an outlay of Rs 1600 crore, will begin with tender process in April, said District Collector P S Pradyumna after a meeting here on Thursday.

The Collector held a meeting with Municipal Corporation commissioner Ch Hari Kiran, Tirupati Urban SP Abhishek Mohanty. Later, speaking to media, he has said that about Rs 1,000 crore works will be taken up first on priority basis. This include acquiring 50 of battery operated e-Rickshaws for household waste collection, introduction of e-learning in two municipal corporation schools, implementation e-profile of the school children on their health status to be taken up in four municipal schools.

In addition, development of Prakasam Park, Nehru Municipal High School Park and Padmavathi Park and development of tanks in the city which will begin with Vinayak Sagar development. Apart from cleaning of the tank, facilities including walking track, benches and improvement of lighting with LED lights and greenery will be taken up in the tank. Development of Indira Maidanam, a sports complex including a synthetic tennis court will also be taken up, he said.

Other initiatives include mechanised parking for vehicles, roof top solar power plants with 1135 kilo watt to improve city environment. Besides, a major work of laying underground cables with an outlay of Rs 300 crore also be taken up after the approval by the Chief Minister, after finalization of tenders in April. The laying of underground electric cables also planned to enhance greenery. A mega command and control room is also proposed under the project with setting up of 1800 CC Tv camera for efficient traffic control and also prompt solving of problems like power failure, cleanliness etc. The City corporation along with Urban police will take up operation of the cameras keeping a constant watch that would also help to prevent crimes like thefts.

Collector who is the corporation special officer informed that battery stations will also be set up in all fuel stations for recharge of battery operated and electric vehicles that would be promoted in the coming days and also 100 percent coverage wi-fi network in the pilgrim city.

In the meeting, the Deloitte company, which was entrusted with the preparation of smart city project proposals made a power point presentation on 42 projects for consideration under smart city project.