Smart Cities Mission: Vision, Challenges, and Missed Goals

Why in the news?

Nearly a decade after its launch, the Smart Cities Mission faces scrutiny for failing to achieve objectives. Mismanagement, lack of local governance, and misplaced priorities have left key projects, including Shimla’s initiatives, incomplete and underwhelming.

Smart Cities Mission: Vision, Challenges, and Missed Goals

Status of the Smart Cities Mission:

  • Launched in June 2015, the Smart Cities Mission aimed to develop 100 “lighthouse” urban models for India.
  • The program focused on two components: Pan-City Proposals (IT-enabled services like waste management and mobility) and Area-Based Development (ABD) for retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield projects.
  • The mission sidelined local governments, creating Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) registered under the Companies Act to implement projects. This privatized approach assumed efficiency over traditional governance structures.

Challenges and Lessons:

  • The initiative was designed using the Internet of Things (IoT), a framework more suitable for advanced economies with established basic infrastructure.
  • In India, where basic amenities remain a challenge, the concept translated to providing fundamental services rather than advanced technological solutions.
  • Public participation and local government involvement were largely ignored, leading to a lack of ownership and accountability.
  • Projects often prioritized aesthetics over functionality, such as non-operational escalators and expensive flower pots in Shimla, without addressing core issues like traffic congestion or non-motorized mobility.

Shimla’s Smart City Experience:

  • Initially excluded, Shimla joined the mission after a legal intervention. The city proposed retrofitting 244 acres with projects focusing on pedestrian crossings, mobility, eco-tourism, and water security.
  • The planned investment was ₹2,906 crore, with multiple funding sources, but only ₹707 crore (24%) was spent, mostly on ongoing projects.
  • Key objectives like redevelopment of Lower Bazar and traffic decongestion remain unachieved, highlighting poor execution and misplaced priorities.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times