‘Smart cities’ asked to provide PNG supply, CNG stations

Ministry of Urban Development on Saturday asked the States and Urban Local Bodies to provide for Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply and CNG stations in the cities selected for development as Smart Cities.
According to a POB release, they were also asked to ensure convergence of various schemes of the Central Government aimed at enhancing energy supply and related infrastructure in the Smart City Plans under preparation. These were conveyed to States and ULBs at a ‘Smart City Proposal Enhancement Workshop’ organized by the Ministry of Urban Development in New Delhi on Saturday.
Dr.Sameer Sharma, Additional Secretary (Urban Development) and Mission Director, Smart City Mission informed the States and ULBs that Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent meeting of the NITI Ayog desired PNG supply and convergence of energy related and Digital India related schemes in Smart Cities being developed. Dr.Sharma made it clear to States and Urban Local Bodies that all claims regarding initiatives so far taken and proposed to be taken for smart city development should be substantiated by necessary evidence and the deadline for submission of Smart City Plans by December 15 will not be extended.  Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power, New and Renewable Energy and Department of Electronics and Information Technology made detailed presentations on various schemes that could be converged under smart city development for better results.