T’puram: Even as capital city secured initial release of funds under CITIIS 2.0 programme, the city’s ambitious integrated solid waste management project is yet to enter full-fledged implementation, with the Centre’s public notification for the implementation phase still awaited.Thiruvananthapuram is the only city from Kerala selected under CITIIS 2.0 (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0), a flagship urban sustainability programme of ministry of housing and urban affairs. The city is among 18 cities across India chosen under the competitively selected projects category for climate-resilient urban development.Although the project received its initial financial sanction earlier this year, officials said the implementation phase cannot begin until the Centre issues formal public notification governing project execution. The notification is expected to define implementation framework, procurement process, eligible project components and fund utilisation guidelines for all 18 selected cities.The Centre released about Rs 7.5 crore, representing around 10% of the central share of the project cost, while the state govt contributed nearly Rs 1.5 crore, taking the total amount available to around Rs 9 crore. However, officials said the amount can currently be utilised only for preliminary activities such as procurement-related processes, documentation and preparatory works.“The project has entered preparatory stage, but implementation notification from the ministry is still awaited. Once it is issued, we can move into full-scale execution. The initial funds are mainly meant for enabling activities before the actual implementation begins,” an official with Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) said.Officials said the delay is not specific to Thiruvananthapuram. None of the 18 cities selected under CITIIS 2.0 has entered the implementation phase yet, as the Centre is expected to issue a common notification for all participating cities. SCTL officials are hopeful that the notification could be issued in the coming months, though no official timeline has been communicated by the ministry.Another area of uncertainty is the final approval of project components. The detailed project report (DPR) submitted by SCTL contains around 10 components, but officials said there is no assurance that all of them will receive approval from the Centre. The implementation notification is expected to specify which components have been cleared for execution and the extent of funding available for each.Among the project’s key proposals is an integrated digital waste management platform designed to monitor the entire waste management chain—from waste generation and collection to transportation, processing and disposal. The technology-driven monitoring system is considered one of the unique features of Thiruvananthapuram’s proposal and is expected to improve operational efficiency and accountability in the city’s waste management network.Mayor V V Rajesh said the civic body remains confident that the project will move forward once the Centre completes the formalities.“The project is progressing in the right direction. We expect the remaining approvals and funds from the Union govt soon. As soon as the implementation notification is issued, we will begin the project activities without delay,” the mayor said.The CITIIS 2.0 project is expected to significantly strengthen Thiruvananthapuram’s waste management infrastructure through climate-resilient interventions, decentralised processing facilities, improved logistics, digital monitoring and scientific planning. However, until the Centre issues the implementation notification and approves the project components, the city’s flagship urban sustainability initiative will remain in a preparatory phase rather than moving into full-scale execution.
