The members of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' consultative committee were informed of the status of the Smart Cities Mission by Mr. Hardeep S. Puri, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Petroleum, and Natural Gas. In order to fully realise the potential of this ground-breaking mission, he said, the Mission is implemented at the city level by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which plays a crucial role in monitoring the initiatives. The Minister claimed that the ideas being fostered in these 100 smart cities will have a significant impact on India's urban future.
The goal of the Smart Cities Mission, which was established on June 25, 2015, is to use "smart solutions" to provide citizens with core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of living.
The Real-Time Geographical Management Information System (GMIS) is used by the Smart Cities Mission, which is overseen by an Apex Committee led by the Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to report on the progress of projects as they are being implemented. A Smart City Advisory Forum (SCAF) is set up at the city level in accordance with the SCM Statement and Guidelines to provide guidance and facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders. It includes representatives from the Mayor, District Collector, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, local youth, technical experts, other stakeholders, etc. The SCAFs have been formed in all 100 Smart Cities.
The Mission has around 7,800 projects worth US$ 22 billion (Rs. 1.8 lakh crore), of which 5,700+ projects (approximately 73%) worth US$ 13 billion (Rs. 1.1 lakh crore) have been completed. All remaining projects are expected to be completed by June 30, 2024.
The implementation of the Smart Cities Mission, marked the start of a new era in the urban development industry as a step towards reforming the industry, encouraging improved economic standards, smart governance, a climate-sensitive sustainable environment, vibrant public spaces, digital access, and health & hygiene, thus empowering the cities framework. The Government of India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is dedicated to raising the ease of living index for the benefit of its people.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.