Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 6: During the question hour at the state assembly, MLA K Raghupati Bhat, raised questions about the smart city project here and held discussions with the minister. He wanted to know why approval was not given even after detailed project report (DPR) was prepared for the implementation of smart city project on public private partnership basis, the general session of the municipality resolved to get approval to undertake tender process and the same was submitted to the government. He wanted to know why approval was not yet accorded.

The assembly session, which was held for seven days, ended on Friday February 5.

Byrathi Basavaraj and Raghupati Bhat

Urban development minister Byrathi Basavaraj, in reply to Raghupati Bhat's questions, said that the DPR relating to the project has been examined. He said that there is need for more clarity on the financial implications of the project, source of income total expenses and some other issues. He said that a letter has already been written to the deputy commissioner seeking fresh information. He assured that once this information is received, further steps would be taken.

Bhat requested to hold meeting at the government level with the participation of the MLA and ministers and approve the project at the earliest in the interests of the progress of Udupi city. He said that project will be implemented under private public partnership without any financial burden on the government. He said that visits to Bhopal and Bhuvaneshwar had been undertaken to study the models on which Udupi can be turned into smart city and that study since a year is also undertaken to install digital smart poles like in Bhopal in Udupi. He requested to give approval at the earliest as it does not need any government grant.