SMART CITIES MISSION (SCM)

Latest Context

The deadline for completing projects under the Smart Cities Mission was extended for all 100 participating cities to June 2023 due to the delays caused by COVID-19 and based on a NITI Aayog recommendation in August, according to Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.

Facts About Smart Cities Mission

• Launched: June, 2015
• Nature: Centrally Sponsored Schemes
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
• Aim: To bring about a paradigm shift in the practice of urban development in the country.
• Focus: Sustainable and inclusive development.
• Implemented through: Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at city level.
• Mission Deadline: Extended to June 2023.
• Coverage: Developing 100 selected cities as Smart Cities.

Six Fundamental Principles of SCM

• Community at the Core.
• More from Less.
• Cooperative and Competitive Federalism.
• Integration, Innovation and Sustainability.
• Technology as means not as a goal.
• Convergence.

Pillars of the SCM

• Social Infrastructure.
• Physical Infrastructure.
• Institutional Infrastructure.
• Economic Infrastructure.

Objectives of SCM

• Create employment opportunities.
• Make cities liveable, inclusive and sustainable.
• Provide core infrastructure and give a decent life to their citizens.

Challenges of the SCM

• Slow Progress: Less than 50% of the project had completed.
• Finance Resources: It has difficulty in mobilizing funds, transferring them to SPVs and using them efficiently.
• Digital Security: Vulnerable to hacking by cybercriminals.
• Lack of confidence shown by the citizens: It is a lack of clarity around the benefits.
• Urban Problems: Such as air pollution, broad congestion and the decline in public transport.
• Policy Issues: Hindrance in getting environmental clearances.

Smart Solutions

• Energy Management: Involves the use of smart grids, renewable energy sources, and energy-efficient buildings to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• Solid Waste Management: Use of technology to improve waste collection and disposal systems such as smart bin that alert authorities when they are full, waste-to-energy plants, and recycling facilities.
• Transportation: It involves the integration of technology in public transport systems such as real-time traffic monitoring, smart traffic lights, and intelligent public transport systems that provide citizens with the most efficient and cost-effective routes.
• Smart Healthcare: To improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services such as telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and smart healthcare facilities.
• Smart Governance: Make them more transparent and efficient such as e-governance portals, citizen feedback mechanism and smart surveillance systems.

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