Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ambitious plan to give Cumilla a much-needed makeover on the lines of a smart city has gained momentum. Better water and energy management as well as enhanced mobility options ensuring last-mile connectivity make modern cities across the world sustainable and liveable. Read: Growing vegetable export revives Cumilla farmers’ hopes Cumilla would boast of all such modern facilities under the "renovation project", for which a whopping Tk 1,500 crore has now been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). Cumilla City Mayor Monirul Haque Sakku thanked Prime Minister Hasina, who chaired the committee meeting on Tuesday, on behalf of the residents. "The residents of Cumilla are very happy to receive this gift on the Golden Jubilee of independence and the centenary of Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," an elated Mayor said. The project plan includes great infrastructural development in the city, officials said. Cumilla City Corporation execution officer Shafiqul Islam said the Mayor, engineers and officials of the civic body have all been working on this mega project for the past one year as per the government's directions. Read: Cumilla pottery: Heritage on the verge of extinction "The corporation is, in fact, adhering to all the step-by-step directions of the Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives," he said. "Through the implementation of this project, everyone's dream of building a modern, developed, livable city will come true," said Shafiqul.