Task forces for three smart cities set up

NEW DELHI, Mar 4: City-wise task forces have been set up by the Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu for drawing up concrete action plans for development of Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities. The Task Forces will have representatives of the ministries of Urban Development and External Affairs, respective state governments and cities and the United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA), said a senior Urban Development Ministry official. Setting up of these Task Forces follows the decision taken at a recent meeting between Naidu and the US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. USTDA and the three respective state governments had signed Memoranda of Understanding for cooperation in developing Ajmer, Allahabad and Visakhapatnam as Smart Cities on January 25. During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and the strategic and commercial dialogue with President Barack Obama, the US had offered to assist in the development of these three cities as smart cities. The Task Force on Ajmer comprises Divisional Commissioner, Ajmer (Chairman), Secretaries of Town and Country Planning and Municipal Affairs in Rajasthan government, District Collector of Ajmer, Administrator of Urban Improvement Trust, Ajmer, Municipal Commissioner of Ajmer, Mayor of Ajmer besides Joint Secretary of Union Urban Development Ministry, and representatives of Ministry of External Affairs and USTDA. Allahabad Task Force comprises Divisional Commissioner (Chairman), Secretaries of Town and Country Planning and Municipal Affairs in UP government, District Magistrate, Vice-Chairman, Allahabad Development Authority, Mayor of the city besides Additional Secretary (Urban Development), Government of India and representatives of Ministry of External Affairs and USTDA. The Task Force for Visakhapatnam will be headed by Secretary (Town and Country Planning) in Andhra government, Secretary (Municipal Affairs), District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, Vice-Chairman, Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority, Mayor of the city, Joint Secretary (Urban Development), GOI and representatives of Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Navy and USTDA.