Political rivalries are delaying the launch of Smart City programmes in Pune with reports that suggested that the Congress party blaming the Nationalist Congress Party of creating hurdles in the setting up of special purpose vehicles for Smart Cities. .

Reports said the Congress is putting the blame on the ruling NCP in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for the delay in forming SPV.

The civic administration had called a special general body meeting for approving the formation of an SPV.

The Smart City project has been under controversy from the beginning as all political parties, except the BJP, have been opposing the likely structure of the SPV.

According to the proposal, the SPV is to be headed by a bureaucrat but opponents of the scheme said that the mayor, being the first citizen of the city, cannot be functioning below the bureaucrat.

Besides, the SPV chief its members would include the mayor, deputy mayor, leader of the opposition, leader of the House, chairperson of the standing committee and at least three nominated corporators.

Very few corporators were present in the meeting during the general body meeting.