Belagavi City Corporation has been awarded a significant grant of ₹135 crore under the Smart City project to revolutionize its solid waste management and sustainability efforts. Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal announced the funding at a conference in Jaipur. It will support the “VIISWAS” (Vision to Implement Integrated Solid Waste Management and Sustainability) project.
The substantial grant follows Belagavi’s successful participation in the CITIIS 2.0 challenge, a central government initiative for smart city projects. Out of 84 participating cities, Belagavi emerged as one of the 18 winners, and notably, the sole city from Karnataka to secure funding. The proposal, a collaborative effort between Belagavi Smart City and the BCC, was presented in detail by Sayeeda Afrin Banu Ballari, Managing Director of Belagavi Smart City, to the jury in March 2024.
The announcement was accompanied by the signing of a quadrilateral agreement between the Union Ministry of Urban Development, the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation (KUIDFC) Bengaluru, Belagavi Smart City, and the BCC. The agreement formalizes the commitment to implement Belagavi’s innovative solid waste management framework within a three-year timeframe, with project completion targeted for March 2028.
The project aims to enhance the city’s solid waste management practices significantly. Key figures present at the agreement signing included Rupa Mishra, Director of the Central Urban Affairs Department; Sharath, Managing Director of KUIDFC Bengaluru; Sayeeda Afrin Banu Ballari, Managing Director of Belagavi Smart City; and Shubha B, Commissioner of the BCC, along with other officials.