Pasighat begins Smart City journey

Itagar, Jan 22: Chief Minister Pema Khandu laid the foundation stone for Smart City at the IGJHS School playground at Pasighat in East Siang district in presence of Union Minister of State Home Kiren Rijiju and Deputy Chief Minister Chow Mein on Sunday.

The Chief Minister said with an investment of Rs 1,534-crore, the core element of infrastructure development of smart city, would include adequate electricity and water supply, sanitation and solid waste magement, efficient urban mobility and public transport, robust IT connectivity and safety and security of citizens particularly of women and children.

Khandu said the people of Aruchal will always remain thankful to the Central government for approving two smart cities for the State – Pasighat and Itagar – despite being a small State. He said such gesture shows the great concern and affection Prime Minister rendra Modi has for the State, an official report stated. 

Established in 1911, Pasighat, along with 97 other cities, had been selected for the first round of the smart city race in 2016. Pasighat, with a population of around 25,000, was the only town from Aruchal Pradesh to figure in the list of third round.

This is the result of the team effort of the local community, administration and public leaders. I salute the people of Pasighat for their hard work and determition. It is the effort of Team Aruchal due to which even after being small State we are capable of gaining two smart cities ,” said the Chief Minister and added that he was always hopeful that Itagar, too, would be selected as a smart city, which is now fulfilled.

Khandu appealed the people to avail optimum benefits under the project and join hands with the government cutting across political affiliations. He said that the centre had offered fund for smart city mission in the ratio of 50:50 and a delegation was led by him to request the PM to adopt the 90:10 ration - 90% by the Central government and 10% by the State considering the feeble economy of the Northeastern States.

The PM responded positively and assured them of examining the matter, said the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minster hoped that the smart city project should become a reality and not remain only on papers. The big challenge in smart city mission is the implementation part.

He appealed to the people of the historic town to discourage bandh culture and fight against all odds in making Pasighat people friendly and crime-free city to realize the long-felt dream of turning Pasighat into a smart city, the report added.