Question

Write a note on Smart City Mission in India.

Answer 1

The Smart City Mission in India is an initiative launched by the Government of India on 25 June 2015 with the objective to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, decent quality of life to citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and the application of ‘Smart Solutions’. These Smart Cities aim to optimise city functions and promote economic growth while improving the quality of life for residents using smart technology.

A Smart City uses Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance operational efficiency, share information with the public and provide better government services and citizen welfare. People can live and work efficiently within the city utilising its resources.

Key features of Smart Cities in India include:

• Mixed land use that integrates residential, commercial and recreational spaces.
• People-centric planning favoring pedestrians and cyclists.
• More urban recreational spaces like parks to improve ecological balance and citizen happiness.
• Multimodal transport systems integrating walking, biking and public transport.
• Citizen-friendly governance relying on technology to make services accountable, transparent and accessible online.

The mission targets the development of 100 smart cities, including satellite towns near mega cities, upgrades of mid-sized cities and new settlements along industrial corridors.

The government approved a budget of ₹ 98,000 crore to develop these cities, each typically supporting about a million people.

The mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to make cities sustainable and citizen-friendly by leveraging technology and innovation.

As of March 2022, thousands of projects have been completed under the mission, with Bhubaneswar declared as the smartest city in India, followed by cities like Indore and Surat among the top smart cities.