Tamil Nadu shortlists 12 corporations for smart city

The Smart City challenge has begun. 

 After a round of evaluation of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the State, the government has finalised all the 12 corporations for the smart city challenge at the national level. 

 Initially, over 30 municipal corporations, apart from the 12 corporations, were in the contest at the intra-State level competition. In this initial stage, the selection was by way of giving marks to the existing service levels and preparing a score card.

The increase in construction of sanitary latrines built under Swachh Bharat Mission was the first criterion.

Water supply, e-newsletters, online grievance redressal system, institutional systems, capacities, interaction with residents at the ward level, audit of accounts, tax revenue were among the factors were taken into account, say officials of Commissionerate of Municipal Administration (CMA).

The next challenge will be at the national level. Based on the urban population and level of statutory towns, each State has been allotted smart cities. Tamil Nadu, one of the most urbanised States, has been allotted 12, second only to Uttar Pradesh