Centre extends Smart City Mission to March 2025, to benefit Rs 800 crore worth of projects in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Central Government has approved an extension of the Smart City Mission until March 2025, responding positively to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's appeal.

During a visit to New Delhi on June 24, the Chief Minister met with Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar and requested an extension.

Initially, the deadline for the Smart City Mission was set for the end of this month. In Telangana, projects are underway in Warangal and Karimnagar. In Warangal, 45 projects have been completed, with 66 more, costing Rs 518 crore, in progress. In Khammam, 25 projects have been completed, and another 22, worth Rs 287 crore, are ongoing. The Chief Minister briefed the Union Minister on the status of these works.

Revanth Reddy had urged the central government to extend the mission until the completion of ongoing projects. In a favourable response, the central government issued a letter on Saturday, extending the mission until March 31, 2025. The letter specified that only approved projects would continue, with no new projects sanctioned, and funds for ongoing works would be released on a first-come, first-served basis until September. The Centre advocated the completion of works as soon as possible.