UP Govt Allots ₹700 Crore for Smart City Development in Seven Cities.

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved an additional ₹700 crore allocation to enhance urban services in seven of its cities under the ongoing Smart City mission goals. This significant financial injection aims to further upgrade infrastructure and amenities in these key urban centers.

Under this latest approval, the cities of Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Mathura, Shahjahanpur, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Firozabad will each receive ₹100 crore. This funding is supplementary to the initial State Smart City scheme, which previously provided ₹50 crore annually to each of these seven cities from 2019 to 2024, totaling ₹1,750 crore over five years.

The initial funds were utilized for a wide array of urban improvements, including the development of better roads, modern parking complexes, smart classrooms, solar-powered streetlights, specialized senior care centers, open gymnasiums, and health ATMs, among other essential facilities.

However, recognizing the evolving expectations of the urban population, state authorities identified the need for further upgrades, particularly in areas such as integrated traffic management systems, the creation of green zones, and enhanced educational and healthcare amenities.

In response to requests from the municipal corporations overseeing these seven cities for additional funds to develop these new facilities, the state government decided in March to extend the State Smart City scheme until March 31, 2027.

"The corporations have been asked to submit a detailed action plan on the projects they are going to execute during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years through the additional ₹100 crore that is going to be doled out to each one of them," stated a senior government officer.

Amrit Abhijat, Principal Secretary of the department, confirmed that the evaluation of these action plans is currently underway. Funds will be released in tranches to the municipal corporations that successfully meet the stipulated deadlines for project implementation. This new allocation underscores Uttar Pradesh's commitment to transforming its urban landscapes and improving the quality of life for its residents.