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.
