New Delhi: Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has said the government is working on an ambitious plan to build one smart city each at the country's 12 major ports. The plan estimates total investment of Rs 50,000 crore.
“Each port will construct one smart city. We are trying to do this. Each city will be built with an expenditure of about Rs 3,000-4,000 crore,” he said.
Gadkari said, "These will be green smart cities. We are starting work on these in four to six months. You will see all these complete in five years."
Detailing the concept, he said these cities will be built in accordance with international standards and will have wide roads, green energy, advanced townships and greenery.
In addition, these smart cities and ports will have e-governance links, international standard facilities, special economic zones, ship-breaking and ship-building centres, besides allied things, he said.
The 12 major ports under the Centre's control have between them an estimated 2.64 lakh acres of land, which is being mapped through satellites and are major resources with Shipping Ministry.
Mumbai Port Trust alone has about 753 hectares of land with it, valued at about Rs 46,000 crore.
“We are identifying our property through GPS system. We do not want to sell land to builders and developers. We will develop these,” Gadkari said, adding that companies will be invited to construct houses there and private investment will be roped in.
“Port water will be recycled. Port wastes will be turned into bio gas. Vehicles will run on bio fuel. Solar energy and wind power will be generated at ports. These cities will be pollution-free and very green smart cities. We are starting these,” Gadkari said.
Besides, electric vehicles will run here and these smart cities would house schools, commercial complexes and other amenities, he added.
