SPV For Bhubaneswar Smart City Takes Off

April 4, 2016 Environment

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha capital Bhubaneswar which came at the top of the first batch of 20 smart cities selected by the Ministry of Urban Development also became the first to get its Special Purpose Vehicle take off holding the first meeting of the Board of Directors last week at which several operational decisions were taken.

At the first Board meeting held on March 29, R.Balakrishnan, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Odisha were appointed as Chairman of the SPV, Vice-Chairman of Bhubaneswar Development Authority as Managing Director and R.Vineel Krishna as the CEO of ‘Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited’.

A 16-member Board of Directors was set up with representatives of various departments and agencies of the Odisha Government, one representative of Government of India and 5 Independent Directors of which at least one will be a woman.

Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, the Special Purpose Vehicle will have Authorised Capital of Rs.500 crore, divided into five crore shares of Rs.100 each. Of this, the Government of Odisha and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will have a share of Rs.112.50 crore each while Bhubaneswar Development Authority will contribute equity of Rs.250 crore.

As required under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, the Board of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited declared the date of commencement of business on April 1, 2016.

The Board in its first meeting also decided on delegation of financial powers. CEO can accord administrative approval for projects up to Rs.7 crore, Managing Director –up to Rs.10 crore, Executive Committee of SPV –up to Rs.25 crore and the Board up to Rs.100 crore.

The state government will sanction projects costing over and above Rs.100 crore.

Project management will be undertaken through engagement of Project Management Consultancy. CEO was authorised to finalise the terms and conditions and manner of recruitment and also engage agency for providing various services.

R.Vineel Krishna, appointed as CEO was earlier Collector and District Magistrate of Malkangiri district.

Under Smart City Mission Guidelines, SPVs for each smart city are to be set up to enable faster execution of projects by delegating to them powers of various concerned departments and agencies.