SMART CITIES MISSION

 Government of India launched Smart Cities Mission (SCM) on 25 June 2015. 100 Smart Cities have been selected through 4 rounds of competition from January 2016 to June 2018. The objective of SCM is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and decent quality of life to their citizens, clean and sustainable environment through application of smart solutions. The idea is to look at compact areas, create replicable models which will act as lighthouses for other areas in the same city/other aspiring cities.

The learnings from the Mission are disseminated through various mechanisms. There have been 4 editions of India Smart City Awards (ISACs) wherein best cities, projects and innovations have been recognized. As part of each edition, a compendium of award winning projects is published. The Mission has published numerous publications, newsletters, advisories, documents focused on various works that have happened under its umbrella. These documents are useful for all towns and cities of the country. The Mission uses platforms like national and regional conferences, seminars and webinars for peer-to-peer learning. Besides these activities, various outcome indices like the Ease of Living Index have been formulated under the Mission which act as platforms for cross-learning among cities.  As on 27 November 2023, work orders have been issued in 7,959 projects worth around₹ 1,71,224 crore; of which 6,271 projects worth ₹ 1,16,269 crore have been completed.₹ 78,749.88 crore has been released; of which₹ 71,135.70crore  (90%) has been utilized.

The implementation of SCM at the City level is done by SPV created for the purpose. At State level, Mission implementation is monitored by the State Level High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC). At the National level, implementation is monitored by an Apex Committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).  Nominee Directors of MoHUA on the Boards of SPVs monitor progress in respective cities on a regular basis.  MoHUA regularly interacts with the States/Smart Cities through video conferences, review meetings, field visits, regional workshops etc. Smart Cities are continuously assessed on various parameters including, but not limited to, project implementation and utilization of funds through the Real Time Online Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS). The period of implementation of SCM has been extended upto June 2024 and all Smart Cities  are expected to complete their projects within the stipulated time.

Empowering Urban Evolution: The Smart Cities Vision in India

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has made a recent announcement regarding the India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022. This event is held as a part of the broader Smart Cities Mission (SCM). The contest has recognized and honored 66 winners across diverse categories.

Notably, Indore in Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh have taken the lead in the ISAC 2022 awards. These cities have been acknowledged for their remarkable achievements in various aspects of urban development.

National Smart City Award:

Indore clinched the prestigious national smart city award, reflecting its remarkable strides in urban development strategies. Following closely were Surat and Agra. Indore's dedication to enhancing sanitation, water supply, and the urban environment earned it recognition as a front-runner in these critical domains.

State Award:

The state award was secured by Madhya Pradesh for its holistic approach in promoting smart city initiatives within its jurisdiction. Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan followed suit, demonstrating commendable efforts in this field.

Union Territory (UT) Award:

Chandigarh was bestowed with the UT award, acknowledging its relentless endeavors to shape itself into an exemplar of a smart city.

Other Categories:

• Coimbatore stood out in the built environment category.
• Ahmedabad excelled in the culture and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) segment.
• Jabalpur showcased its prowess in the economy category.
• Chandigarh shone in governance and mobility.
• Indore led in sanitation, water, and urban environment domains.
• Vadodara was recognized for its achievements in social aspects.
• Hubbali Dharwad claimed the top spot in the innovative idea category.
• Surat's efforts in the Covid innovation category were highly appreciated.

What is ISAC:

The ISAC acknowledges and commends cities, projects, and innovative concepts that advance sustainable development within the 100 designated smart cities. It fosters cities that are not only driving inclusive, equitable, safe, healthy, and collaborative urban environments but also elevating the overall quality of life for their residents.

Having been held three times previously in 2018, 2019, and 2020, the fourth edition of ISAC was inaugurated in April 2022 during the 'Smart Cities-Smart Urbanization' event in Surat, Gujarat.

The ISAC 2022 awards incorporated a dual-phase submission process. The first phase, termed the 'Qualifying Stage,' encompassed a comprehensive evaluation of each city's overall performance. Subsequently, the 'Proposal Stage' required smart cities to nominate themselves for recognition in six distinct award categories.

These categories encompassed:

• Project Awards with ten diverse themes,
• Innovation Awards spanning two distinct themes,
• National/Zonal City Awards,
• State Awards,
• UT (Union Territory) Award, and
• Partners Awards with three varied themes.

Smart City Mission:

The Smart Cities Mission is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that was launched in June 2015 with the objective of transforming 100 cities in India by providing essential core infrastructure and creating a clean and sustainable environment. This transformation is achieved through the implementation of "Smart Solutions" to ensure a decent quality of life for the citizens. The mission's primary focus is to fulfill the aspirations of India's urban population by undertaking various urban development projects.

Key Features:

• Area-Based Development: The mission's strategic components include area-based development, which involves retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield development to enhance cities. Additionally, a pan-city initiative is applied to cover larger parts of the city with smart solutions.
• Focus Areas: The scheme prioritizes the construction of amenities such as walkways, pedestrian crossings, cycling tracks, efficient waste management systems, integrated traffic management, and assessment mechanisms.
• Indices Tracking: The Smart Cities Mission evaluates multiple indices to monitor urban development progress. These indices include the Ease of Living Index, Municipal Performance Index, City GDP framework, and Climate Smart Cities assessment framework.

Achievements:

• Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC): One of the major achievements of the mission is the establishment of ICCC in all 100 smart cities. These centers act as operational hubs for urban management, utilizing technology to enhance various aspects of city operations. ICCCs have notably improved crime tracking, citizen safety, transport management, waste management, water supply, and disaster preparedness.
• Sectoral Progress: The Smart Cities Mission encompasses projects across various sectors, including mobility, energy, water, sanitation, public spaces, social infrastructure, and governance.
• Smart Mobility: Completion of 1,174 projects.
• Smart Energy: Successful completion of 573 projects.
• Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Over 1,162 projects completed.
• Public Spaces: Development of more than 1,063 public spaces.

The Smart Cities Mission is a significant initiative aimed at transforming urban areas in India into more efficient, livable, and sustainable environments through innovative technological interventions and holistic urban planning.

The India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) 2022 stands as a testament to the remarkable strides made in urban development through the Smart Cities Mission. The recognition of cities, projects, and innovative ideas that foster sustainable growth is a vital step towards creating inclusive, equitable, and thriving urban environments. As we celebrate the accomplishments of Indore, Chandigarh, and other cities, we are reminded that the journey towards smart cities is a collective effort, rooted in the core principles of progress, innovation, and collaboration. With initiatives like ISAC and the broader Smart Cities Mission, India continues to pave the way towards a future where urban areas are not only technologically advanced but also enriched with quality of life for all its citizens. This positive trajectory promises to shape our cities into vibrant hubs of creativity, efficiency, and well-being.

Smart Cities Mission

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed that 86% of funds have been utilised and 69% of projects completed under Smart Cities Mission.

About Smart Cities Mission:

>  Smart Cities Mission is Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2015 under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

>  The main objective of the Mission is to 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’.

>  100 cities have been selected to be developed as Smart Cities.

Mission comprises 3 model:

* City improvement (retrofitting),

* City renewal (redevelopment)

* City extension (greenfield development).

>  The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is created by each city to implement the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) at the city level.

* The SPV will be a limited company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 at the city-level, in which the State/UT and the ULB will be the promoters having 50:50 equity shareholding.

* The private sector or financial institutions could be considered for taking equity stake in the SPV, provided the shareholding pattern of 50:50 of the State/UT and the ULB is maintained and the State/UT and the ULB together have majority shareholding and control of the SPV.

Issues in Smart Cities Mission:

>  Lack of Suitable Infrastructure for Smart Cities: Smart city initiatives need the support of physical and IT infrastructure.

> Transparency and Data Privacy: Smart cities rely on gathering and analysing data from various sources which can cause privacy issues.

> Financing: Maintaining smart cities requires a lot of resources and not all cities have the financial capacity to enact smart city initiatives.

> Data Processing Capacity and Efficiency: Smart cities need a reliable and efficient way to process and analyze massive amounts of data.

> Slow progress: Only around 20 cities are likely to meet the June 2023 deadline; the rest will need more time.  The sluggish pace of progress suggests that the project management and execution are inadequate, leading to a wastage of resources and causing delayed benefits for the citizens.

> Against decentralization: SPVs limit the powers and autonomy of local governments. This goes against the 74th Amendment Act, 1992 which encourages decentralization.

Suggestions:

>  Strict Timeline for Completion of Projects: Smart Cities Mission has completed only 69% of the planned projects, indicating the need for a strict timeline for project completion. It is essential to ensure that the projects are completed on time to achieve the desired results.

>  Need for a Long-Term Program: Smart Cities Mission should be a long-term program, not restricted to five or six years as currently envisioned. This will provide sufficient time to address the social and economic problems facing these towns and cities.

>  Building Managerial and Financial Capacities: Training programs should be organized to build the managerial and financial capacities of the staff employed by the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and urban local bodies.

> Empirical Studies on SPVs: Empirical studies should be undertaken on the SPVs in cities that lag behind in implementation to understand the reasons for the delay.

> Mobilising Funds: The Centre, state governments, and urban local bodies should make a greater effort to mobilize funds for the Smart Cities Mission. More revenue needs to be generated through efficient taxation, and alternate sources of financing.

> Ensuring Cyber Security: Smart cities should be made cyber secure by ensuring data security and encryption.