Smart City list: Amritsar makes it too

After failure in previous rounds, the holy city has finally made it to the list of cities across the country that will be developed under the smart city project.

After failure in previous rounds, the holy city has finally made it to the list of cities across the country that will be developed under the smart city project. The Union urban development ministry on Tuesday announced the names of 27 new cities that have been included in the third list. Along with Amritsar, Jalandhar has also made the cut. Now, the state has three cities, including Ludhiana that was selected in the second round, which will be developed as smart cities.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora (centre) addressing a press conference in Amritsar on Tuesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

“This is a moment of privilege and happiness for all of us. Amritsar, a holy city, has made it to the third list of the smart city project. We are very happy with this development,” Amritsar mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said during a press conference soon after the announcement was made. He was accompanied by senior deputy mayor Avtar Singh Truckanwala and other local Bharatiya Janata Party and Akali leaders.

Talking to HT on the municipal corporation’s future course of action, Arora said: “The entire city will be transformed. The existing projects will get a fillip and all modern facilities will be provided to residents.”

Arora said traffic flow will be streamlined, closed-circuit television cameras will be installed, global positioning system will be employed for tracking garbage collection vehicles and emphasis will be laid on e-governance in various departments as well as facilitation centres. The mayor also promised round-the-clock electricity and water supply under the project.