464 smart city projects worth Rs 14,124 crore approved in North East

The Centre has reportedly chosen eight smart cities in North East India and approved 464 smart city projects for the same. This approval came after a review of the progress of the north eastern states. The eight selected smart cities are Guwahati in Assam, Imphal in Manipur, Passighat in Arunachal Pradesh, Namchi in Sikkim, Aizawl in Mizoram, Kohima in Nagaland, Gangtok in Sikkim and Agartala in Tripura. Twenty-four of these projects have been identified as ‘impactful’ and cost around Rs 3,706.05 crore, including Guwahati’s Rs 826-crore Brahmaputra riverfront development project and Kohima’s Rs 409-crore ropeway project. According to reports, five projects of Rs 95.5 crore are currently under development; each of the eight smart cities will be offered a Rs 500 crore-assistance by the ministry. Further, 42 towns in the North East have become open defecation free  while 588 community toilets and 20,237 household toilets have been constructed in keeping with the Swach Bharat Mission’s vision.