1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. GS Paper 3
  4. Economy

Smart Cities Mission (SCM)


About the news

  • The concept of “Smart Cities” gained prominence post-2009, emphasizing integrated infrastructure, advanced ICT, and sustainable urban development.
  • The NDA-1 government initiated the SCM in June 2015, selecting 100 cities without a universally accepted definition. It stated that the meaning of a Smart City varies globally and locally based on development, resources, and aspirations.

 Two Major Aspects of SCM:

Area-Based Development:

  • Redevelopment: Renewing existing urban areas.
  • Retrofitting: Improving existing urban areas.
  • Greenfield Projects: Developing new urban areas.

Pan-City Solutions: Focus on ICT-based improvements across various sectors:

  • E-governance
  • Waste management
  • Water management
  • Energy management
  • Urban mobility
  • Skill development

Funding and Governance

  • Total planned outlay: ₹2 lakh crore, with a significant reliance on public-private partnerships (PPP).
  • Governance through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), often bypassing traditional city governance models and limiting the role of elected councils.

Current Status (as of April 2024)

  • Total Projects: 8,033 projects sanctioned.
  • Funding: Reduced from ₹2 lakh crore to ₹1,67,875 crore (16% decrease).
  • Completed Projects: 5,533 projects worth ₹65,063 crore.
  • Ongoing Projects: 921 projects worth ₹21,000 crore.
  • PPP Involvement: Less than 5% of the funding sourced through PPPs.

Challenges

  • About 400 projects in around 10 cities unlikely to meet the June 2024 deadline.
  • Limited to small geographic areas, e.g., only 1% of a city’s area.
  • Diverse urban contexts not fully considered.
  • ₹1,67,875 crore falls significantly short of the $1.2 trillion estimated needed by 2030.
  • SPV model conflicts with the 74th Constitutional Amendment, leading to objections from various cities.
  • Projects led to displacement of poorer communities and disruption of urban commons.
  • Infrastructure projects compromised water channels and increased flood risks in historically non-flood-prone areas.
Subject:

Get free UPSC Updates straight to your inbox!

Get Updates on New Notification about APPSC, TSPSC and UPSC

Get Current Affairs Updates Directly into your Inbox

Discover more from AMIGOS IAS

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading