Smart Cities' project yet to get Centre's nod.

The State government is yet to receive a response from the Centre on its proposal to develop Smart Cities, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Minister for Urban Development, told reporters recently after inaugurating the Control Room and Response Centre set up by the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board.

After the Smart Cities project was announced in the Union Budget 2014-15, the State government identified three cities with a population above 50 lakh - Tumakuru, Devanahalli and Ramanagaram - for the same.

Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mangaluru were identified as part of the project to develop 41 cities with a population of around 10 lakh. The Centre chose to develop Mangaluru as a Smart Port City.

Mr. Sorake said the government suggested Vijayapura, Udupi and Hosapete for the Heritage Cities project. However, the Centre chose Badami and released Rs. 20 crore for it.

He said the chosen cities will be comprehensively developed with the cost being shared by the Union and State governments.

THE HINDU