Party time: Mayor V.K. Prasanth, Deputy Mayor Rakhi Ravikumar, and other councillors celebrating the inclusion of Thiruvananthapuram city in the Smart Cities Mission when the council met on Saturday. | Photo Credit: S_GOPAKUMAR more-in Having being included in the Centre’s Smart City Mission, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation now plans to constitute a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to execute the proposals under the urban development programme. Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V.K. Prasanth said that the local body had sought the consent of the State government to form the SPV that would have a Board of Directors chaired by the Chief Secretary. While a government-nominated official would become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the other members of the Board would include the Mayor and the Secretary of the Corporation, representatives nominated by Central and State governments, and independent directors. “While the administrative sanction has already been obtained for the purpose, we hope to constitute the SPV and subsequently, prepare a detailed project report at the earliest. The proposed activities will be launched this year,” he said. Allocation With an allocation of ?1,386.10 crore, a lion’s share of the total project estimate had been earmarked for the Area-Based Development that would focus on the region including Palayam and East Fort, he said. The other component, i.e., Pan-City Development, would be undertaken by utilising an amount of ?152.10 crore. First component Among the ambitious projects to be taken under the first component would be the implementation of an effective decentralised waste management system by the year 2020. The project involved installing aerobic bins, kitchen bins, and material recovery centres, among others. “For the purpose, the Corporation has approved a by-law for constituting the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Sanitation Management Committee for coordinating all related efforts. The various wings of the committee including its general body will be formed at the earliest. The local body also intended to undertake each stages of waste collection and disposal without depending on private agencies,” the Mayor said. Proposed projects Other proposed projects included ensuring round-the-clock water drinking water supply, setting up underground utility ducts across the city, constructing an adequate number of public toilets, establishing a warehouse and commercial complex at Chalai by retaining its rich heritage, and launching smart water metering services and smart traffic systems, he said. A council meet that was held earlier welcomed the inclusion of the city in the mission and lauded the efforts made by the Corporation in achieving the distinction. Controversial remark However, a remark made by CPI (M) councillor Aisha Baker that the “achievement was not due to the generosity of Union Minister of Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu” threatened to disrupt the rare show of camaraderie. The Mayor soon ordered that the remark be expunged from official records.

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