The Smart Cities Mission is a plan by the Indian government to improve the quality of life in cities and towns across the country. According to data from 2011, about one-third of India’s population lives in cities that contribute to about two-thirds of the country’s economy. By 2030, it is expected that even more people will live in cities, contributing even more to the economy. The government’s Smart Cities Mission aims to make 100 cities in India better places to live and work.
See also: Smart cities in India
What is the Smart Cities Mission?
The Smart Cities Mission is a government initiative launched on June 25, 2015, to improve the living standards in cities and towns across India. The mission focuses on leveraging digital technology, implementing best practices, and increasing public-private partnerships to achieve this goal. The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission, and each state has set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee the process. The mission has been provided with funding of Rs 7,20,000 crore to ensure its success.
As part of a programme to upgrade cities across India, 100 cities have been selected nationwide through five selection rounds. These cities will be improved based on an area development plan. All states, except for West Bengal, are participating in the programme. This is due to political differences between the central and state governments. Notably, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, both located in Maharashtra, have withdrawn their participation.
Features of Smart Cities Mission in India
- The Smart Cities Mission promotes mixed land use as per the area while fulfilling environmental safeguards.
- It aims to expand housing opportunities for everyone, particularly for large and lower-income demographics.
- Smart Cities Mission vision is to reduce congestion, ensure security, reduce air pollution and promote interaction and the local economy.
- New way pedestrians are built for walkers and cyclists to reduce accidents.
- The development of playgrounds, parks, open gyms, and other recreational spaces is another objective to enhance the quality of life for Indian citizens.
- Transport options like transit-oriented development (TOD) and public transport are promoted.
- To bring transparency and accountability in governance, more online services are launched.
- Identity is provided to the city based on the education sector, health sector, local cuisine, sports, culture, art, furniture, etc.
- Smart Solutions are applied to infrastructure and services for area development.
Smart Cities Mission in India: Financing
The Indian government has provided funding of Rs 7,20,000 crore for the smart city mission, amounting to an average of Rs 100 crore per city over a span of five years. The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and operates on a 50:50 model, where the centre and state governments or Union Territories contribute Rs 50 crore each.
Smart Cities Mission in India: Cities list
A total of 100 cities have been selected as of date. In the first slot, West Bengal, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai submitted the proposal but withdrew the application later. Most of the cities are from Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the Smart Cities Mission.
- Port Blair
- Visakhapatnam
- Tirupati
- Kakinada
- Amaravati
- Pasighat
- Guwahati
- Muzaffarpur
- Bhagalpur
- Biharsharif
- Patna
- Chandigarh
- Raipur
- Bilaspur
- Naya Raipur
- Diu Dadra & Nagar Haveli
- Silvassa
- New Delhi Municipal Council
- Panaji
- Gandhinagar
- Ahmedabad
- Surat
- Vadodara
- Rajkot
- Dahod
- Karnal
- Faridabad
- Dharamshala
- Shimla
- Srinagar
- Jammu
- Ranchi
- Mangaluru
- Belagavi
- Shivamogga
- Hubballi Dharwad
- Tumakuru
- Davangere
- Bengaluru
- Kochi
- Trivandrum
- Kavaratti
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Jabalpur
- Gwalior
- Sagar
- Satna Ujjain
- Nashik
- Thane
- Greater Mumbai
- Amravati
- Solapur
- Nagpur
- Kalyan-Dombivali
- Aurangabad
- Pune
- Pimpri chinchwad
- Imphal
- Shillong
- Aizawl
- Kohima
- Bhubaneshwar
- Raurkela
- Oulgaret
- Ludhiana
- Jalandhar
- Amritsar
- Jaipur
- Udaipur
- Kota
- Ajmer
- Namchi
- Gangtok
- Tiruchirapalli
- Tirunelveli
- Dindigul
- Thanjavur
- Tiruppur
- Salem
- Vellore
- Coimbatore
- Madurai
- Erode
- Thoothukudi
- Chennai
- Greater Hyderabad
- Greater Warangal
- Karimnagar
- Agartala
- Moradabad
- Aligarh
- Saharanpur
- Bareilly
- Jhansi
- Kanpur
- Prayagraj
- Lucknow
- Varanasi
- Ghaziabad
- Agra
- Rampur
- Dehradun
Smart Cities Mission: Infrastructure
Please find below a list of initiatives aimed at promoting public welfare and efficient management of resources in urban areas:
- Providing public information and addressing grievances
- Offering electronic service delivery
- Encouraging citizen involvement in city management
- Monitoring crime through video surveillance
- Promoting waste management and recycling
- Treating wastewater and ensuring its safe disposal
- Managing construction and demolition waste
- Implementing smart metres for water and electricity consumption
- Identifying and fixing water leakages
- Monitoring the quality of the water supply
- Encouraging the use of renewable energy sources
- Promoting energy efficiency and green buildings
- Implementing smart parking solutions
- Managing traffic through intelligent systems
- Offering integrated multi-modal transportation
- Providing telemedicine services
- Establishing trade facilitation centres
- Setting up skill development centres
Smart Cities Mission India
The Ministry of Urban Development implemented a contest-based model to identify cities eligible for the Smart City mission by adopting an area-based development approach. Initially, cities were evaluated at the state level, and the highest-scoring city was then advanced to the national Smart City Challenge. The selection process was determined by a scoring system, and the state government nominated cities.
The CITIIS 2.0 Programme, which is a part of the Smart Cities Mission, has been extended for four more years, running from 2023 to 2027. This program is aimed at supporting certain projects that promote a circular economy and focus on integrated waste management at the city level. It also aims to encourage climate-oriented reform actions at the state level, institutional strengthening, and knowledge dissemination at the national level. The main objective of this program is to build on the successes and lessons learned from CITIIS 1.0, which helped to develop and implement sustainable and innovative infrastructure projects.
According to the Union Urban Affairs Minister, over 90% of the funds designated for the Smart Cities Mission have been utilised, and almost 73% of the projects have been completed. To ensure the success of the mission, other government-initiated projects are interconnected, including AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation), HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana), Make in India, Digital India, Swach Bharat Abhiyan, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The integration of social, economic, physical, and institutional infrastructure can lead to overall development, and the convergence of sectoral schemes can bring great benefits.
Data Smart City Mission under SCM
The Smart Cities Mission is a project that aims to use technology to boost economic growth and improve the quality of life for people by promoting local area development. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is launching a new strategy called DataSmart Cities, which focuses on utilising the potential of data to solve complex urban issues.
This initiative aims to foster a culture of data-driven governance in smart cities, which includes setting up a smart cities alliance, network, and data strategy at the local level. The program also outlines reusable use cases for smart cities in various fields and facilitates peer-to-peer learning about data-driven governance.
The use of IoT devices, sensors, and other tools generates massive amounts of data in cities, which can be harnessed by cities that have embraced a culture of data awareness and usage. These cities, known as DataSmart Cities, can enhance governance decision-making efficiency, accountability, and transparency while promoting citizen participation, co-creation, and innovative problem-solving.
Recommendations for the Smart Cities Mission
To maximize the benefits of the Smart Cities Mission, the following recommendations should be considered:
- Adopt a long-term approach: The program should extend beyond the current five-year plan. Many cities require a longer timeframe to achieve their full potential and deliver sustainable results.
- Identify more projects: Additional projects must be recognized and implemented in order to cater to the diverse needs of cities. For instance, several smart cities still face unresolved issues with their drainage systems, which need immediate attention.
- Conduct in-depth studies: Investigations should be conducted to understand why certain projects have stalled. For example, cities like Amaravati, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and Shillong have not seen the completion of even a single project. Identifying the reasons behind these delays can help in formulating strategies to overcome such obstacles.
- Increase revenue for funding: To ensure adequate funding for these projects, cities should explore generating more revenue through taxation. Additionally, the process of fund transfer should be made more accessible and efficient.
- Enhance cyber security: All smart cities must prioritize cyber security to protect data and ensure encryption. This will safeguard sensitive information and maintain the trust of residents.
Implementing these recommendations can lead to more effective and impactful outcomes for the Smart Cities Mission.
FAQs
What is the Smart Cities Mission in India?
The Indian government launched the mission on June 25, 2015, to enhance living standards in towns and cities nationwide. The mission prioritises the use of digital technology, the implementation of best practices, and the increase of public-private partnerships to achieve this objective.
What is the goal of the Smart Cities Mission?
The Smart Cities Mission aims to enhance the standard of living in cities and towns throughout India, making them more livable and conducive to work. The program aims to improve the quality of life in 100 cities nationwide.
How are cities improved under the Smart Cities Mission?
Under the mission, cities are enhanced by implementing an area development plan. This plan aims to encourage mixed land use, increase housing availability, alleviate traffic congestion, ensure safety, minimise air pollution, and promote community engagement and economic growth.
How does the Smart Cities Mission aim to enhance the quality of life for Indian citizens?
The objective of the Smart Cities Mission is to improve the standard of living of Indian citizens. This can be achieved by establishing areas for leisure activities, encouraging the use of public transportation, implementing online services to ensure fairness and responsibility in governance, and locating and repairing water leaks.
What is the CITIIS 2.0 Programme, and how is it related to the Smart Cities Mission?
The CITIIS 2.0 Programme is an initiative under the Smart Cities Mission that seeks to back projects promoting a circular economy and integrated waste management at the city level. Additionally, it aims to encourage state-level climate-oriented reform actions, strengthen institutions, and disseminate knowledge at the national level.
How does the Smart Cities Mission promote sustainable development?
Encouraging the utilisation of renewable energy sources, promoting energy efficiency and green buildings, treating wastewater and ensuring its safe disposal, and managing construction and demolition waste are ways the Smart Cities Mission promotes sustainable development.
How is the Smart Cities Mission funded?
The smart city mission in India has received funding of Rs 7,20,000 crore from the government. This funding will be distributed over five years, amounting to an average of Rs 100 crore per city. The funding model operates on a 50:50 basis, where the centre and state governments or Union Territories contribute Rs 50 crore each.
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