New Delhi, Nov 13 Smart City Plans to be submitted to the Indian Ministry of Urban Development by the 98 identified mission cities for evaluation in the second stage of ‘City Challenge Competition’ will be assessed for their credibility and do-ability.
The Ministry has firmed up the evaluation criteria seeking to enable formulation of workable city level Smart City Plans as suggested by the Minister of Urban Development M Venakaiah Naidu.
States and Urban Local Bodies have been adequately consulted in this regard.
The Mission cities are currently engaged in preparation of Smart City Plans to be submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development by December 15 for evaluation so as to pick up the first batch of mission cities for financing this year.
As many as 98 cities were earlier selected based on intra-state competition in the first stage of City Challenge Competition based on a set of criteria.
Smart City Plans will be assessed based on City-level criteria (30% weightage), Area Based Development features(50%) and Pan-city Solutions(15%) encompassing above mentioned parameters.
Based on the suggestions from States and Urban Local Bodies(ULBs), weightage for Pan-City Solutions has been increased from 10% to 15%.
Citizen engagement has been made mandatory for identifying smart city objectives and evolving strategic plan under city-level criteria, deciding on area development features and identification of Pan-city Solutions with a total weightage of 16%.
City-level criteria includes measures taken during the last three years to enhance livability and administrative efficiency of cities, quality of city vision and strategic plan, identification of gaps and KPIs and potential for improvement.
Implementation framework including feasibility and cost effectiveness of Area Based Development and Pan-city Solutions of Smart City Proposals is given the highest weightage of 30% as it encompasses credibility of proposals. Under this, Mission cities should indicate realistic timelines and targets and sequencing of efforts and actions through PERT and CPM charts, a clear financing plan with details of resource requirements and their mobilization, development of bankable projects, innovative ways of financing including tapping of financial markets and land monetisation, life time costs, O&M costs and financial sustainability, details of Special Purpose Vehicle to be set up, convergence with other schemes, role of various institutions involved in implementation of plan etc.
