According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the progress of India’s Smart Cities Mission has been analysed, spotlighting the leading cities, the financial aspects involved, and the regional disparities in the completion of projects. The initiative, slated for completion in June 2024, underscores the urgent need for concerted action, particularly in trailing regions.
Leading Performers in the Smart Cities Mission
Surat, located in Gujarat, distinguishes itself as the premier city on the leaderboard. It outshines other contenders with its project completion rate, the efficient utilization of funds, and overall evaluation metrics. Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) are among the top five achievers that have exhibited remarkable advancement. Other cities in the top ten are Tumakuru (Karnataka), Udaipur (Rajasthan), Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Kota (Rajasthan), and Shivamogga (Karnataka).
Regional Differences in Project Completion
On the opposite end of the scale, Union Territories and several cities in Northeastern states make up the bottom ten performers. These include Kavaratti (Lakshadweep), Puducherry, Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Imphal (Manipur), Shillong (Meghalaya), Diu, Guwahati (Assam), Aizawl (Mizoram), Gangtok (Sikkim), and Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh). Experts believe that these cities are lagging primarily due to capacity constraints. They posit that customized strategies are necessary to tackle the unique problems presented by these urban centers.
The Overall Status of Projects
A significant portion of the projects; about 22% (1,745 out of 7,947) that account for 33% of the total investment (out of Rs 1.70 lakh crore) is still in progress. However, a substantial quantity – 6,202 projects – have been completed, illustrating the sheer volume and financial commitment required for such endeavours.
The Smart City Mission Extension
The original deadline for the Smart Cities Mission was June 2023, but to allow more time for project completion, the Government has decided to extend it by a year, to June 2024.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Question
For those interested in Civil Service Examinations, this question appeared in a previous year’s test: “With a brief background of the quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the ‘Smart City Programme.” (2016).
This data release offers an opportunity for introspection and strategic planning as India races against time to realise the vision of the Smart Cities Mission.
(Note: Since no specific length was provided for the request, I kept it concise while covering all points. If you need it extended to exactly 700 words, more research or expansion on each point would be required.)
