Smart City: Another milestone in Kohima’s path to transformation

[caption id="attachment_220928" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A file picture of Kohima town.[/caption] Our Correspondent Kohima, Nov. 30 (EMN): As part of the Smart City mission, a project management consultant (PMC) agreement was signed between the Water and Power Consultancy Services India (Wapcos) and the Kohima Smart City Development Limited (KSCDL). Under this agreement, the consultant is to provide direct assistance to KSCDL to design, manage and implement Smart City projects identified by the city on two outputs viz., area-based development and pan-city solution. The Kohima Smart City website (kscdl.nagaland.gov.in) was also launched and citizens have been invited to access, comment and suggest as well as get information on the activities of KSCDL. Kohima is one of the 60 cities announced by the government of India to be developed into a smart city. As stated in its website, the vision of the Kohima Smart City mission is to leverage the state capital’s geo-strategic location to foster sustainable and resilient community-led development as a regional hub for tourism and transit complemented by its significant natural and cultural assets. The state’s Municipal Affairs department, as the nodal agency, will facilitate Smart City mission; while KSCDL will plan, implement, manage and operate the Smart City development projects in Kohima. The scheme will be implemented in accordance with the mission guidelines within the jurisdiction of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC). Besides others, the objectives of the KSCDL is to promote Kohima as community resource liveable city that would provide better quality of life to its citizens while preserving its rich cultural assets and clean, sustainable environment. Talking to Eastern Mirror, the CEO and administrator of KMC, Kovi Meyase said its primary objective and intent was not only towards infrastructural development but also ensure the citizens to ‘feel the impact of smart city at the local level.’ When enquired about the ongoing projects under Smart City mission, Meyase said the first phase of beautification of Kohima has started from Classic Point to box-cutting area; while the construction of multi-level parking at old medical directorate building and NST had started in October this year. He also disclosed that DPRs for state cultural hall and ‘site level’ of the old assembly secretariat area along with boundary walls, and retaining walls have been approved and tenders will be soon floated online to maintain transparency. According to a document made available to Eastern Mirror, the total estimated cost of Smart City Project (SCP) is INR 1794.16 cr., out of which PAN City has a share of INR 624.36 cr. and area-based development cost is INR 1036.89 cr. However, it further stated that the projects to be funded under Smart City—leaving aside the project covered by convergence, Public Private Partnership or Joint Venture or soft borrowing and financing through debt—is INR 863.56 cr. According to the document, the ABD seeks to create a new urban paradigm for Kohima in line with the crosscutting themes of promotion, participation and performance. The ABD consists of 285 acres chosen for retrofitting and redevelopment strategically situated around the core city and comprises the main economic and commercial centre of Kohima.