Only seven per cent, or about Rs 645 crore have been utilised so far out of Rs 9,860 crore released to 60 cities under the Smart City project, says a data report.
Of the Rs 196 crore specified to each of around 40 cities, Ahmedabad has spent the maximum amount of Rs 80.15 crore. While Indore has spent (Rs 70.69 crore), Surat (Rs 43.41 crore) and Bhopal Rs 42.86 crore, as per the data of the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
Conversely, the data also suggested that of the approved funds, Andaman and Nicobar could utilise only Rs 54 lakh, Ranchi 35 lakh, and Aurangabad Rs 85 lakh.
The ministry was alarmed about the slow progress of the project in some of the cities. It would approach the cities which aren’t meeting the expectations of speedy implementation of the projects, said a HUA official.
Among cities that got around Rs 111 crore each, Vodadara has spent Rs 20.62 crore. While Namchi in Sikkim spent Rs 6.80 crore, Salem, Vellore and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu could utilise only Rs 5 lakh, Rs 6 lakh and Rs 19 lakh, respectively.
