SHILLONG, April 05: The Minister incharge of the Department of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar said that the process for the ‘Smart City’ has moved forward, and the expense for the work is upto Rs. 700 crores which will be incurred 50/50 by the Central Government and the State Government. He said that the State Government is seeking for more funds from the Central Government besides the Rs.350 crores for the Smart City.
As per the statement of the Chief Minister in this year’s Budget Session, the Government plans to increase the expense for the Smart City from Rs.700 crores to Rs.1000 crores, and this will be incurred 50/50 with the Central Government.
On being asked, the Minister said that from the Rs.350 crores which is to be received from the Central Government, the Department has received about Rs.140 crores, while from the State Government about Rs 54 crores has been received. On being asked further, he said that the completion till now for the work is different from one to the other because they include the Polo Market, Laitumkhrah Market and other projects.
On the traffic congestion and implementation of the Smart City, Dhar said that the Department will work together with other departments of the Government such as the PWD and Home Department, as the problem of traffic congestion is a long pending one and the Government is looking for ways and means to alleviate the problem. He said that in part to ease congestion in Shillong city, the Government has shifted it’s Adminstrative Offices to New Shillong Township.
