Development of smart cities at snail's place even after a decade of announcement

By Bishnu Pandey, Kathmandu, Aug. 25: Progress in the construction of 54 smart cities across the country has been at a snail's pace.

With a view to building modern and well-managed urban areas along the mid-hill highway, the government had a decade ago declared turning 10 small town areas along the highway into smart cities.

Thereafter, the government added 44 new areas to be developed as smart cities. Smart cities were to be developed along the mid-hill highway, postal highway in the Terai-Madhesh area, and 10 smart urban settlements in the Himalayan region.

However, the construction work of even a single smart city has moved forward.

Construction of these cities is still in limbo as they were declared without concrete planning and allocation of the necessary budget.

Roshan Shrestha, chief of the new city project under the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, viewed that construction works could not take momentum as the government has been allocating little budget although building smart cities cost billions of rupees.

Construction works for three smart cities- Palungtar, Nijgadh and Lumbini- began in 2015. After the construction started, the government enlisted 14 more places to be constructed as smart cities, and the total number reached 17.

Of the 17 smart cities to be developed, some of them do even not have a detailed project report (DPR). In some places, initial works have started.

"Construction of smart cities did not progress as expected owing to sufficient budget," Chief Shrestha said.

It costs about 40 billion rupees to construct a smart city, but the government allocates only 3 billion rupees a year. How can progress be made in such a situation? Shrestha said.

He said that the project has been allocating 70 per cent of the allocated budget for building the smart cities in the mid-hill highway area.

Proposed location smart cities

 12 smart cities are to be developed along the mid-hill highway. such cities will be developed in Basantpur of Terhathum, Khurkot of Sindhuli, Baireni-Galchhi of Dhading, Dumre-Bhansare of Tanahu, Burtiwang of Baglung, Chaurjahari of Rukum, Rakam-Karnali of Dailekh, Sanfebagar of Achham, Patan of Baitadi, Bheriganga of Surkhet and Bhingri of Pyuthan.

10 smart cities along the postal highway

According to the Ministry of Urban Development, smart cities will be developed in Gauriganj of Jhapa, Rangeli of Morang, Manara of Mahottari, Brahmapur of Sarlahi, Maulapur of Rautahat, Mahagadhimai of Bara, Bardaghat of Nawalparasi, Rajapur of Bardiya, Bhajani of Kailali and Belauri of Kanchanpur.

5 smart cities in Terai-Madhes

Shabhunath of Saptari, Balawa of Mahottari, Ishwariya of Sarlahi, Katahariya of Rautahat and Gadhwa of Dang are also to be developed into smart cities.

 Himalayan city in 10 places

Travel Himalaya Trail or Himalayan cities are to be developed in Solukhumbu, Rasuwa, Mustang, Humla, Bajura, Simikot, Martadi, Kimathanka, Chame, Fungling, Dunai and Kolti.

10 more smart cities

An announcement has been made to develop smart cities in Bara, Rupendehi, Gorakha, Dhankuta, Siraha, Rautahat, Kavrepalanchowk, Chitwan, Syangja, Dang, Dailekh, Dadeldhura, Kailali, Mahendra Nagar, Bhaktapur, Rautahat and Jhapa.

A total of 486 kilometers of road have been made in the area of 54 smart cities. Of this, 135 kilometers have been blacktopped and a sewerage system has been put in place in some areas.

Sewerage and drainage construction has been completed on 292 km of road in the designated smart city areas. 55 government buildings have also been built. 530 solar lights have been installed, 16 bus parks, 6 sports grounds, 12 garden parks, and 10 drinking water projects have been made in the designated areas.