An American company is going to study the 'smart city' to be developed in Panchkhal municipality. For that, Kathmandu-based Infrastructure Bank Limited (NIFRA), which has signed an agreement with the city, is going to ask an American institution called JLL to study the market.
NIFRA had signed a seven-condition agreement with Panchkhal Nagar of Kavrepalanchok on July 29 to make the city a 'smart city'. A memorandum of understanding was signed to invest, build and operate the project in public-private partnership (strong, capable, inclusive and prosperous infrastructure). A seven-point agreement was reached on the issue of making the city smart through private partnership through infrastructure. The agreement was signed by Mayor Mahesh Kharel and Executive Officer of the Bank Ram Krishna Khatiwada.
It is estimated that around Rs. 2 billion will be spent for the construction of infrastructure for the smart city to be constructed in an area of about 4,500 ropanis. Out of the total area, 650 ropanis of land will be provided by the city from its ownership. According to Khatiwada, executive officer of the bank, NIFRA will hand over the market study to JLL with the approval of its board of directors.
NIFRA has stated that the work of more detailed study of smart city will be taken forward after the report of JLL. JLL will study for about two months. NIFRA has also held discussions with local people's representatives, political parties, local people and stakeholders for the development of the smart city. Mayor Mahesh Kharel said that the city would assist in the administrative and land management work for the smart city to be developed in the pooling model and the cost of infrastructure construction would be borne by NIFRA and its partner organizations.
According to him, NIFRA will continue the process by partnering with foreign and domestic construction companies for that purpose. In developed countries, smart city is understood as a green city connected with information technology. In the case of Nepal, a city is considered as a city with all the basic facilities and infrastructure. The smart city will have facilities like electricity, schools, colleges, hospitals, various parks, markets, sewerage, bus parks and cinema halls in all areas.
The municipality is entering into agreements with other financial institutions to develop and promote entrepreneurship. The two parties also signed an agreement with Navil Bank last August with the objective of providing easy loans to the locals who want to start an enterprise. Various activities have been initiated to develop the city as an 'agricultural city'.
For this, the city has been providing grants and tools under various headings. In 2071 BS, the former five VDCs were merged to form Panchkhal Municipality. Three years ago, two VDCs were added to make it larger. Divided into thirteen wards, the municipality has a total area of 103 square kilometers and currently has a population of 35,992.
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