5 things you must know about Smart Cities Mission

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 100 Smart Cities Mission in New Delhi on Thursday. 

He said, "For the first time in the country, the people, and the urban leadership would play the pivotal role in deciding the future course of their cities."  The cities to be developed as smart cities will be chosen on the basis of competition where basic parameters to be selected will have to be met. 

Modi said, "These urban development schemes were not prepared by the Government alone, but involved perhaps the biggest consultation exercise ever taken by the Union Government, involving all stakeholders and examining global best practices." 

Here are 5 things you must know about the Smart Cities Mission"

1. Central  assistance to be used only for infrastructure projects which have larger public benefit. 

2. Minimum area norm for Retrofitting is 500 acres; for Redevelopment-50 acres; for Green Field projects-250 acres. This will be 50% for North-Eastern and Himalayan states.

3. Bench marks to be achieved include  : 10% of energy needs to be met from renewable sources, 80% of building construction to be green and 35% of housing in green field projects to be for economically weaker sections.

4. Special Purpose Vehicles to be set up for implementation of smart city plans with 50:50 equity of States and Urban Local Bodies

5. An Inter-departmental Task Force to be set up to coordinate all aspects of smart city development. 

Also Read: India Inc warms up to PM Modi's "audacious" Smart Cities project