The Government has pushed the deadline of its Smart Cities Mission to June 2024 and Smart Cities working hard to showcase achievements.
About
- The Smart Cities Mission is an initiative of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
- Between January 2016 and June 2018 (when the last city, Shillong, was chosen), the Ministry selected 100 cities for Aboutthe Mission over five rounds.
- The projects were supposed to be completed within five years of the selection of the city
Funding
- The Mission is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- Central Government will give financial support to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores over 5 years i.e., on an average Rs.100 crore per city per year.
- An equal amount on a matching basis is to be provided by the State/ULB.
Objective
- Promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
- Drive economic growth and improve quality of life through comprehensive work on social, economic, physical and institutional pillars of the city.
Smart Cities Mission launch date and guidelines
The Smart Cities Mission is an ambitious and transformative program launched by the Government of India in June 2015. The main objective of this mission is to make Indian cities more efficient, sustainable, and technologically advanced while improving the quality of life for its citizens.
Key Features and Objectives:
- Urban Transformation
- The Smart Cities Mission aims to transform selected cities into vibrant and sustainable urban centers that leverage technology and innovation to improve the overall quality of life of residents.
- Selection of Smart Cities
- The government identified and selected 100 cities through a competitive process to be developed as “Smart Cities.” These cities were chosen based on a City Challenge competition where they presented their proposals and plans for sustainable development.
- Area-Based Development
- Instead of focusing on the entire city at once, the mission adopts an area-based development approach, where specific areas within a city are identified for comprehensive development, such as retrofitting, redevelopment, or greenfield development.
- Smart Solutions
- The program emphasizes the implementation of smart solutions, including technology and data-driven initiatives, to enhance infrastructure and service delivery. Examples include efficient public transportation, smart traffic management, waste management systems, e-governance, and improved utility services.
- Citizen Participation
- Citizen engagement and involvement in the planning and implementation process are crucial components of the Smart Cities Mission. The government encourages citizen feedback, ideas, and suggestions to ensure that the development plans align with the needs and aspirations of the local population.
- Sustainability and Resilience
- The Smart Cities are encouraged to adopt sustainable and resilient practices to mitigate the challenges posed by urbanization, such as resource management, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and climate change adaptation.
- Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC)
- The cities under the Smart Cities Mission are equipped with Integrated Command and Control Centers. These centers serve as a centralized hub for monitoring and managing various city services and functions in real-time.
- Financing and Public-Private Partnerships
- The mission utilizes a mix of financing options, including public funds, private investments, and funds from other government schemes, to implement the projects. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are encouraged to mobilize resources and expertise.
The Smart Cities Mission is a significant initiative that seeks to address the challenges of urbanization in India and provide a better standard of living for citizens. While it has made substantial progress in various cities, the mission is an ongoing effort with a long-term vision for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
