The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) is a flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on June 25, 2015. The objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
Mission Strategy and Approach
The mission adopts an area-based development approach. It focuses on the development of the entire city (pan-city) and the development of a specific area (Area Based Development).
- Retrofitting: Planning and development of an existing built-up area to achieve smart city objectives, such as reducing congestion and improving infrastructure.
- Redevelopment: Replacement of the existing built-up environment and co-creation of a new layout with enhanced infrastructure.
- Greenfield Development: Introduction of smart solutions in a previously vacant area using innovative planning, financing, and project implementation tools.
- Pan-City Development: Application of smart solutions to the existing city-wide infrastructure to improve service delivery through the use of technology and data.
Selection and Governance
The selection of Smart Cities was conducted through a competitive ‘City Challenge’ process, which evaluated cities based on their ability to execute projects and their vision for urban development.
- Selection Process: 100 cities were selected in four rounds of competition held between 2016 and 2018.
- Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): Each selected city established a limited company under the Companies Act, 2013, to plan, appraise, approve, release funds, and manage the implementation of smart city projects.
- Funding Mechanism: The central government provides financial support to the extent of ₹48,000 crore over five years, with an equal amount matching contribution from the respective state/urban local body (ULB).
Core Infrastructure Elements
The mission mandates a specific set of core infrastructure requirements for every Smart City:
- Adequate water supply and assured electricity supply.
- Sanitation, including solid waste management and sewage disposal.
- Efficient urban mobility and public transport.
- Affordable housing, especially for the poor.
- Robust IT connectivity and digitalization.
- E-governance and citizen-centric services.
- Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
- Health and education facilities.
Key Digital and Technological Initiatives
The SCM emphasizes the use of technology to improve urban administration and public service delivery.
- Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC): Acting as the ‘brain’ of the city, these centers aggregate data from various departments (traffic, police, water, waste) to provide real-time monitoring and incident response.
- Smart Solutions: These include Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS), smart street lighting, smart water meters, and sensor-based solid waste management tracking.
- DataSmart Cities Initiative: An initiative to leverage the power of data for better decision-making, policy formulation, and administrative efficiency.
- India Smart Cities Awards Contest (ISAC): A competition to recognize and reward cities, projects, and innovative ideas that have promoted sustainable development.
Major Challenges and Sustainability
While the mission has transformed urban landscapes, several challenges remain in ensuring the long-term viability of these projects.
- Financial Sustainability: Many SPVs struggle to generate their own revenue through user charges, land monetization, and municipal bonds.
- Project Completion: Delays in land acquisition, bureaucratic hurdles, and complexities in large-scale urban infrastructure projects often lead to cost overruns.
- O&M Management: Long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) of high-tech infrastructure require specialized human resources and consistent funding from the ULBs.
- Digital Divide: Ensuring that smart city services remain inclusive and accessible to all sections of society, including those with limited digital literacy.
Notable Facts and Milestones
- Total Projects: Over 7,900 projects worth approximately ₹1.7 lakh crore have been completed or are in advanced stages of completion.
- Municipal Bonds: SCM catalyzed the use of municipal bonds to raise funds from the capital market; cities like Pune, Indore, and Ahmedabad have successfully issued such bonds.
- ClimateSmart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF): A tool introduced to help cities assess their current climate situation and provide a roadmap for developing climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Ease of Living Index: A periodic assessment conducted by MoHUA to evaluate the performance of cities on the pillars of quality of life, economic ability, and sustainability.
- Street for People Challenge: A mission-led initiative to prioritize pedestrian-friendly streets and public spaces, moving away from car-centric urban planning.