VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA (Smart Cities News): Nearly five years after Vizag, under the ambitious, smart cities mission, close to 95% of the total results have been tendered out or completed in the city. Only one project is at the tender stage.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) is implementing nearly Rs. 1000 crore project through the particular purpose vehicle- Greater Visakhapatnam Smart City Corporation Limited (GVSCCL).
The GVMC has already completed projects such as city operations centre, smart classrooms, solar street lighting, retrofitting of schools and parks, development of open spaces etc. Heritage conversation projects at the town hall and old municipal office are nearing completion. Reminders of the rich heritage of the city, the buildings have now almost faded into obscurity. The GVMC is developing the structures with about Rs. 15 crores.
Under the smart cities initiative, the GVMC has taken up several projects in convergence, such as the renovation of the VMRDA park and indoor sports arena in MVP colony. In addition, the GVMC is planning to inaugurate several projects, such as the two heritage projects. VMRDA park, multi-level car parking facility in Jagadamba Junction etc.
The nearly Rs. 180 crore System Integrator to Implement Smart City Solutions stands out among the projects. The GVMC develop the city operators centre under this initiative, which is integrated with a smart pole that comprises cameras capable of capturing high definition remote directional and zoom control video surveillance, environmental sensors, WIFI hotspots, emergency call system, public announcement speakers, lamps etc.
The city operators centre, which primarily serves as an e-governance centre, would double up as a disaster management centre during emergencies. The GVMC has also focused on revamping schools into smart campuses by providing ICT infrastructure, digital classrooms and renovating buildings under the smart city mission.
Several projects are already complete, while a few are nearing completion. The GVMC is currently executing projects like “Smart Streets”. The corporation wants to complete all tasks as early as possible, said Shri M. Vinay Kumar, Superintending Engineer, GVMC.
Special lanes for pedestrians, accessible public transportation stops and the environment- friendly measures are some components of the “Smart Roads” project, which is being implemented with about Rs. 120 crores. At the same time, the union government provides Rs. Five hundred crores for the smart city project for each selected city, the state government will release an equal amount as the matching point.