The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has recently initiated its work to finalize recommendations for providing Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) as a service, specifically targeted towards states and smaller cities. This initiative is an integral part of the larger Smart Cities project, which seeks to develop 100 self-sustainable, citizen-friendly urban settlements.
ICCCs are designed to enable authorities to monitor the status of different amenities in real time. Initially, these centres were intended to mainly monitor water and power supply, sanitation, traffic movement, integrated building management, city connectivity, and Internet infrastructure. With advancements and needs arising, these centres now also oversee various other parameters and are connected to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS) network under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The MoHUA aims to finalize the ICCC model and implement a pilot project across six major states namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. As it stands, 69 cities have operational ICCCs, with Agartala, Indore, and Vadodara ranked as the best for sustainable business models of these centres.
About the Smart City Mission
The Smart City Mission is an innovative initiative established under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The main objective is to stimulate economic growth and improve the quality of life of people through local development and the application of technology. The project targets to create smart outcomes for citizens through cities that provide core infrastructure and offer a decent quality of life to its citizens, foster a clean and sustainable environment, and apply smart solutions.
Focus and Strategy of the Smart City Mission
The focus of the Smart City Mission is on sustainable and inclusive development. The idea is to create a replicable model within compact areas, which can act as a guiding light to other aspiring cities. The mission uses a Pan-city initiative strategy, applying at least one smart solution city-wide. Development is undertaken step-by-step with the help of three specific models: Retrofitting, Redevelopment, and Greenfield.
Coverage, Duration, and Financing of the Smart City Mission
The Smart City Mission aims to cover 100 cities over a period of five years, starting from the financial year (FY) 2015-16 and lasting until 2019-20. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, signifying that the central government provides financial assistance to the states for executing the programs under the plan. This way, the burden of financing the mission doesn’t solely lie on the urban local bodies, enabling a smoother implementation of the project.
