Over 5,700 projects under the Smart Cities Mission launched by the Narendra Modi government involving an investment of Rs 1.1 lakh crore have been completed as on May 1 this year, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said today.
These completed projects account for 73% of the 7,800 projects worth Rs.1.8 lakh crores that were sanctioned by the government under the scheme for a New India.
Addressing members of the parliamentary consultative committee at a meeting in Goa, the minister said, “All remaining projects are expected to be completed by 30 June, 2024. Also, it was outlined during the meeting that ₹38,400 crore have been released under Smart Cities Mission up to 1 May, 2023, out of which ₹35,261 crore has been utilized.”
The CEOs of smart cities in Coimbatore, Agra and Indore and the Surat commissioner also made insightful presentations on best practices adopted in their respective cities, according to an official statement.
The Minister stated that India’s urban future will draw heavily from the innovations being nurtured in these 100 smart cities as the country moves on its journey towards Amrit Kaal.
Smart Cities Mission launched on 25 June, 2015, is aimed at providing core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’. As many as 100 cities selected through a two-stage competition to be developed as Smart Cities are showing satisfying progress, the minister explained.
Smart Cities Mission, monitored by an Apex Committee headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, regularly reports on the implementation status of projects through the Real Time Geographical Management Information System (GMIS).
Moreover, at State level, High-Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary has been established.
Minister of State Kaushal Kishore lauded the pioneering effort of the Mission in successful deployment of the Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) in all 100 smart cities. “ICCCs build better situational awareness by the use of cutting-edge technologies and provide consolidated visualization for civic officials across urban functions to handle day-day work/ issues/ exigencies through detailed SOPs”, he said. He further added that ICCCs have become the nerve centres of these smart cities and embodies effective use of technology towards strengthening urban management.
The enactment of the Smart Cities Mission, marked the beginning of a new era in Urban Development Sector as a step towards reforming the sector, encouraging improved economic standards, smart governance, climate-sensitive sustainable environment, vibrant public spaces, digital access and health & hygiene aimed to achieve a higher ease of living index, the official statement added.
