Pune: Smart City Dream Shattered, Funding Shortfalls and Missteps Lead to Project Shutdown
Pune: Smart City Dream Shattered, Funding Shortfalls and Missteps Lead to Project Shutdown
The Smart City project, once launched with great anticipation, is now being wrapped due to funding shortages and failed initiatives. The ambitious scheme, introduced in 2016 when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, aimed to transform urban infrastructure but has ultimately fallen short.
Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited, which was established specifically for this endeavor, has managed to execute 45 projects worth ₹1,148 crore over eight years. However, due to significant funding issues and incomplete projects, the responsibility for the Smart City assets has been handed over to the municipal corporation. Additional Commissioner Prithviraj BP will now oversee the transition, including the inspection and management of these assets.
The project encompasses various elements, including 157 Variable Message Displays (VMDs), an Integrated Command and Control Center, and an Adaptive Traffic Management System (ATMS). These assets, some of which are currently non-functional, will also be transferred to the municipal corporation. An evaluation of their operational status will be conducted before issuing tenders for the VMDs, which are expected to provide some revenue.
The Smart City initiative had selected Pune as one of the top cities in a nationwide competition, and the Baner-Balewadi area was designated for development. Projects such as advanced traffic signal systems, parks, and a Command and Control Center on Sinhagad Road were part of this plan. Despite these efforts, issues arose when the government withheld ₹58 crore in interest from the funds allocated to the Smart City. This decision adversely affected several projects, leading to a demand for these funds from the state’s urban development department.
