[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Peenya Industrial Area is in the race for the Smart City Challenge. All eyes of entrepreneurs are now on whether Peenya is going to make it this time.
In its previous proposal, the BBMP had pitched Whitefield for the Smart City Challenge. Now, other localities are vying for the tag such as Peenya Industrial Area, and other entrants like Yelahanka, Malleswaram, and Sarjapur, according to BBMP sources.
According to BBMP Commissioner Sri N. Manjunath Prasad the Smart City Mission stipulated a minimum area of 500 acres, which is smaller than a ward in Bengaluru. The BBMP is therefore working on a combination of a geographical area for area development and a pan city smart solution for this 
year’s pitch. Sources said that the Jana Urban Space Foundation has been roped in as a consultant to prepare the proposal.
Making a strong pitch for choosing Peenya Industrial Area for the Smart City Challenge, Sri R. Krishnamurthy, President, PIA said, “Peenya enjoys the status of being the largest industrial extension in South-East Asia. It therefore should be the first preference over all other localities merely on this count alone. Further, there are many world class exporters operating from Peenya which provides jobs to several thousands of people. Also, Peenya Industrial Area contributes thousands of crores of rupees to the State exchequer by way of taxes. And last but not the least, if Peenya is developed as a Smart City, it will further greatly increase productivity output, enhance industrial development and job creation.”
Lack of public consultation: After the failure of its previous proposal and the failure of Bangalore making it to the Smart City list, the BBMP is undertaking a gap analysis to study the past weaknesses.
“One of the reasons was our low score in public consultation while preparing the plan. We are planning to seek public opinion at an early stage and let people choose the locality to be pitched,” the BBMP nodal officer told media persons, adding that Bengaluru lost by 0.5 marks last time. He equated the pitch to a business proposal as it involves raising investment of Rs. 1,000 crore from the market. “Any investment needs land and the smart city mission also includes area development, which sort of rules out localities within the core city.”
The last date for submitting the proposal is March 31.So let us keep our fingers crossed and wait for the results.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
