No Smart City tag for New Town in Rajarhat

There was a proposal to make New Town in Rajarhat into a Smart City because it had made it to the shortlist of 13 prospective smart cities this May - it was its second attempt. However, the state cabinet has taken a decision of not pursuing the project. With an investment of %s 500-crore of the center and an equal amount by the State, New Town could have boasted of having new-age amenities such as intelligent street lamps with integrated distress buttons, multi-nodal transport hubs and smart bus stops.
But, Bengal has spurned the offer and it is so far the only state to have done so.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 18 August 2016.

The decision of the cabinet would be communicated to Delhi. The chief minister Mamata Banerjee had indicated much earlier that she did not want to include New Town in this central project and the cabinet has formalized this decision.
The decision would translate into losing out on a number of benefits besides smart solutions to everyday problems like a modern water treatment plant, an entertainment zone spread over 2,450sq m between Home Town and Axis Mall, cycling tracks along all thoroughfares, a senior citizens' park and e-health clinics. It comes as a huge disappointment for those who have invested their life's savings in properties in New Town. They were eagerly waiting for civic amenities in New Town to be upgraded because, as it stands, they do not have many amenities.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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