Smart City Mission transforming Hubbali and Belagavi in Karnataka
Smart City Mission: transforming Hubbali and Belagavi in Karnataka
Both cities have completed a majority of the projects planned under the smart cities mission and include unique initiatives such as a Mahila Bazar and a therapy center for specially-abled children.
Hubbali and Belagavi, two Karnataka cities, have seen radical change as a result of the Central Government’s Smart Cities Mission, which is being carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
According to officials, in Hubbali as many as 59 projects including the redevelopment of Tolankere Lake, green mobility corridor and so on, have been completed at an estimated expenditure of Rs 810 crore. Similarly, in Belagavi, nearly 96 public welfare projects such as ‘Mahila Bazar’ and a therapy centre for specially-abled children have been completed at an investment of Rs 870 crore under the smart city initiative.
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The twin cities of Hubbali and Dharwad were selected under the smart cities mission in 2017, and a special purpose vehicle, Hubbali Dharwad Smart City Corporation Limited (HDSCL), was formed.
Managing Director, HDSCL, Rudresh S Ghali, said that Hubbali has undertaken 63 projects which can be grouped under four categories -lakes and parks, buildings and infrastructure, healthcare projects and sports projects.
According to officials, Belagavi City has a population of about 5.07 lakh and is spread across 94.08 square kilometre area. The city was selected to be developed as a smart city in the first phase of the mission in 2016.
Syeda Afreen S. Bellary, Managing Director of Belagavi Smart City, said that 102 projects were undertaken in Belagavi under the Smart City Mission. These were in the fields of healthcare, education, public infrastructure, information and technology, and transport, among others.
“Out of 102 projects, 96 have been completed and six are underway, which will be completed next year. Out of the Rs 930 crore budget allocated under the smart city mission, we have spent around Rs 871 crore on the smart city projects so far. We require more funds to start more citizen-centric projects,” Bellary told Moneycontrol.
She said that Belagavi has been awarded ‘United Nations- Smart Solutions and Inclusive Cities Awards 2022’ by Minister, MoHUA, Hardeep Singh Puri, for the implementation of projects such as an e-library, a therapy centre for physically and mentally challenged children at the Mahatma Phule Park and the Kanabargi Lake Rejuvenation.
Belagavi’s “Mahila Bazar,” a women-led market, is the city’s center of attraction, which is developed under the smart cities initiative. There are 56 shops, all of which are owned by women entrepreneurs. Twenty-nine of 56 shops offer famous dishes from across the country.
“Located on Atal Bihari Vajpayee Road, the market is also known as ‘Khau Katta’ and is a culinary delight for people as they come here from nearby towns as well,” Bellary said.
