Yogi Adityanath announces scheme to transform district headquarters into ‘smart municipalities’

The objective of the scheme is to build modern, self-reliant, and citizen-centric municipalities, he said.

Officials informed that under the scheme, municipalities will be equipped with modern facilities such as pink toilets, urban facility centers, smart classrooms, anganwadis, theme parks, heritage conservation projects, reservoir revival system, EV charging stations, green crematoriums, and digital services. In addition, “utsav bhawans, community centres, and structures based on the ‘One District One Product’ scheme will also be developed to strengthen the local economy.

The Chief Minister said the scheme could be implemented through a hub-and-spoke model in which municipalities of nearby district headquarters may be connected to integrated command and control centres in large cities like Lucknow and Gorakhpur and that this will enable better monitoring, security, grievance redressal, and optimum utilization of resources.

He further directed that projects in each municipality must be selected as per local needs, with financial allocations linked to both physical and financial progress. Under the plan, grants ranging from Rs 4 crore to Rs 10 crore will be provided to municipalities based on their population size and efficiency. He emphasised that equipping district headquarters with a “smart and developed” appearance will not only enhance infrastructure but also ensure transparent and high-quality services for citizens.

In the meeting, a proposal was presented to operate 200 electric buses on the Lucknow–Kanpur route under a net cost contract model, along with the direct purchase of 650 buses for other cities.

The Chief Minister also gave directions for the speedy resolution of discrepancies in municipal tax arrears. He instructed that public objections should be invited through a campaign, and solution camps should be organised to resolve the issues of citizens in a timely and satisfactory manner. He further directed that every municipal body should have its own dedicated building.

On the issue of financial powers, officials said the approval limits of municipal bodies have not been revised for the past 20 years. The Chief Minister said that in line with the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, municipal bodies must be given greater financial and administrative authority. He ordered an immediate expansion of financial approval limits for Municipal Commissioners, Mayors, Executive Committees, and Municipal Corporation Boards.

The CM also directed the establishment of the Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad International Shooting Range and Multipurpose Sports Complex in Lucknow. He said, “These projects should be taken up on a priority basis under the PPP model, which would not only provide an international platform for sports talent in Uttar Pradesh but also create new local employment opportunities.”