Urban Development Minister, M Venkaiah Naidu today said that the government is working on the concept of smart city and the contours of implementing the project for developing/building 100 such cities.

Naidu further said that all stakeholders will be consulted in the matter and this scheme was discussed at a recent meeting of Urban Development Ministers of States and Union Territories.

He said that Parliament would be duly informed of the details of smart cities project after their finalization.

Under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), central government committed itself to provide a total assistance of Rs 467.87 billion to states/UTs for taking up urban infrastructure/development projects. Release of central assistance was linked to implementation of reforms. States/UTs could avail only 73.50% of central assistance forfeiting Rs 123.97 billion, he said.

While 668 small and medium towns reported better utilization of JNNURM funds with an overall utilization of 76% of central assistance.