Central government has sanctioned Rs 4.90 billion out of which Rs 4.81 billion have been released by Kakinada Smart City. The state government had to release Rs 4.88 billion of its share, but it has provided only Rs 3.01 billion. Utilising the available funds, the Kakinada Smart City Corporation Limited, floated in 2016, took up smart city works. Civil engineering expert and Bharatiya Janata Party Kakinada Urban convener G. Satyanarayana says the state government led by Telugu Desam or YSRC, Kakinada Municipal Corporation and Kakinada Smart City Corporation have totally failed in utilising funds for developing Kakinada as Smart City. “There is no proper drainage plan or proper infrastructure in the city. Smart city funds have been spent on only laying roads on existing roads. Officials are unable to supply quality drinking water. Effluent treatment, sewage treatment and solid waste management plans had been the components of the Smart City concept. But these have not been fulfilled,” Satyanarayana pointed out. Citizens’ Initiative secretary D. Subrahmanyam said that due to malfunctioning of CCTV cameras, police are unable to detect chain snatchers, vehicle thieves and others. Quality of road works has not been ensured. He suggested that the central government probe the Smart City works. Officials said they have recently laid stone for establishment of a bio-methane unit using the city’s wet waste. They said after release of funds, several Smart City works can be initiated.
