17-June-2024-Editorial

SMART CITIES MISSION 

The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was launched on June 25, 2015, by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The mission aims to develop 100 cities across India into smart cities that provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life to their citizens. 

About the Smart Cities Mission 

• Launch Date: June 25, 2015. 
• Objective: Promote cities with core infrastructure and a clean, sustainable environment. 
• Number of Cities: 100 cities selected through a two-stage competition from 2016 to 2018. 

• Project Duration: Initially set for five years from the selection date, with original deadlines from 2021 to 2023. 
• COVID-19 Impact: Deadlines extended to June 2023, and further to June 30, 2024. 
• Scheme Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 
• Financial Support: Central Government provides Rs. 48,000 crores over five years, with an equal matching contribution from state governments and urban local bodies (ULBs). 

Principles of Smart Cities 

The Smart Cities concept is based on six fundamental principles: 

• Comprehensive Development: Focus on social, economic, physical, and institutional pillars. 
• Sustainability: Ensure environmental, economic, and social sustainability. 
• Inclusivity: Promote inclusive development for all sections of society. 
• Replicable Models: Create models that can be replicated in other aspiring cities. 
• Citizen Engagement: Involve citizens in planning and implementation. 
• Smart Solutions: Apply technology and innovation to improve infrastructure and services. 

Objectives of the Smart Cities Mission 

• Quality of Life: Ensure a decent quality of life through smart solutions. 
• Economic Growth: Drive economic growth and improve quality of life. 
• Sustainable Development: Focus on sustainable and inclusive development. 
• Replicable Models: Create models that can be lighthouses for other cities. 

Financing of Smart Cities Mission 

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme: Requires equal contributions from state governments and ULBs. 
• Central Government Support: Rs. 48,000 crores over five years, averaging Rs. 100 crores per city per year. 

• State/ULB Contribution: Equal matching amount required from state governments and ULBs. 

Performance of Smart Cities Mission 

• Completed Projects: 5,588 projects worth Rs. 65,996 crore funded under the Mission. 
• Funding Sources: Utilizing cities’ own funds, public-private partnerships (PPP), integration with other missions, and additional sources. 
• Integrated Command and Control Centres: All 100 cities set up these centres at a cost of Rs. 11,775 crores. 

Top Categories of Completed Works: 

• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Projects worth Rs. 44,300 crores. 
• Smart Mobility: Projects worth Rs. 33,019 crores. 
• Smart Governance: Projects worth Rs. 15,474 crores. 

Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs 

• Submission Date: February 2024. 
• Projects Beyond December 2024: 400 projects worth Rs. 22,814 crore will take beyond December 2024 to complete. 
• Reasons for Delays: 
• Resettlement Issues: Difficulties in resettlement of local population. 
• Legal Issues: Problems related to land procurement. 
• Frequent Transfers: Frequent transfers of smart cities’ CEOs. 
• Project Delays: Delays in projects requiring convergence with other government ministries or agencies. 
• Completion Responsibility: State governments to complete the projects at their own cost if not finished within the extended timeframe.