India is making significant efforts to develop smart cities as part of its Smart Cities Mission, which was launched in 2015. The mission aims to develop 100 smart cities in the country by modernizing urban infrastructure and services and improving the quality of life for residents.

As part of this mission, several Indian cities have implemented smart city initiatives. Some are working on building smart cities or certain smart features to their cities. The Indian government is actively working on providing support, funding, and guidance to these cities to enable them to develop smart infrastructure, and provide better living conditions to citizens.

How many smart city projects are there in India?

India’s Smart Cities Mission, which was launched in 2015, aims to develop 100 smart cities in the country. As part of the mission, a total of 98 cities have been selected for development. These cities were chosen through a two-stage competitive process, in which cities were first nominated by state governments and then evaluated based on their smart city proposal and their track record of urban development.

The 99 smart cities are spread across the country, with a mix of big cities and smaller towns, and they represent a diverse range of regions and cultures. The Indian Government has provided funding and technical assistance to help these cities implement smart city initiatives. These initiatives include things like the development of smart transportation systems, the use of IoT sensors and data analytics, the use of clean energy, and the development of e-governance services.

It’s worth mentioning that The Smart Cities Mission, is a long-term initiative, which has a 5-year period for the cities to complete their projects and the final goal is to develop 100 smart cities. However, each smart city have their own timeline to meet their specific goals and timelines, so it may vary on the actual completion of the smart city projects.

Which is the best smart city in India?

It can be difficult to determine the “best” smart city in India, as different cities excel in different areas and have different priorities when it comes to implementing smart city initiatives. However, some cities that have made significant strides in smart city development and considered as examples of successful smart city development include:

1. Bhubaneswar: The city was one of the first 20 cities selected for development under the Smart Cities Mission and has implemented several smart city initiatives such as development of city-wide WiFi network, use of IoT sensors to monitor traffic flow and air quality, implementation of a smart grid to manage the city’s energy consumption, and many more.
2. Pune: Pune has implemented several smart city initiatives such as development of a city-wide WiFi network, use of IoT sensors to monitor traffic flow and air quality, implementation of a smart grid to manage the city’s energy consumption, and many more.
3. Surat: Surat was selected as a smart city under the mission and has implemented several smart city initiatives such as online building plan approvals, integrated command and control centers, and introduction of e-governance services and e-mobility solutions, among others.
4. Jaipur: Jaipur, one of the selected smart city under the mission, has implemented several initiatives such as city-wide WiFi network, use of IoT sensors to monitor traffic flow and air quality, implementation of a smart grid to manage the city’s energy consumption, and many more.

It’s worth mentioning that these cities have implemented many successful smart city initiatives, and the evaluation of smart city is an ongoing process, as no city is ever truly finished “becoming smart” and each city has its own strengths and challenges.

Status of Smart cities in India

The Smart Cities Mission in India is a major initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of urbanization in the country and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in urban areas.

One of the key components of the mission is the use of technology to improve the delivery of services and enhance the livability of cities. This includes the use of digital platforms and systems to improve the efficiency of urban services such as transportation, waste management, and energy distribution. The mission also emphasizes the development of sustainable infrastructure, including green buildings and renewable energy sources, as well as the promotion of smart mobility solutions to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

The implementation of the mission has been met with some challenges. One of the main challenges has been the limited capacity of the urban local bodies(ULBs) to implement such complex projects. There has also been a lack of coordination between the ULBs and the state governments, which has made it difficult to execute the various components of the mission. Additionally, there have been issues with the availability of land, as well as with the financing and operation of smart city projects.

However, despite these challenges, several development projects have been completed or are underway in the selected smart cities, which has led to the improvement in the quality of life for citizens in these areas. The smart cities mission has also helped to promote the development of sustainable infrastructure and has served as a catalyst for the development of smart city technologies.

Overall, while there are still challenges that need to be addressed, the Smart Cities Mission in India has the potential to drive transformative change in urban areas and improve the quality of life for citizens.

What were the objectives of India’s smart city mission?

The main objectives of India’s Smart Cities Mission are to:

1. Promote compact urban areas with a mix of land uses to reduce pressure on surrounding rural and agricultural land
2. Encourage a mixture of housing and employment opportunities within the city to reduce commuting time and improve access to services
3. Develop sustainable and inclusive infrastructure that can meet the needs of citizens
4. Use technology, specifically information and communication technology, to improve the delivery of services and enhance the livability of cities
5. Create a replicable model for other cities to follow
6. Create an enabling environment for private sector participation and investments

The mission aims to improve the quality of life for citizens by making urban areas more liveable, sustainable, and resilient. It aims to address the challenges of urbanization in the country and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in urban areas through the development of smart cities. The Smart Cities Mission focuses on leveraging technology and data to improve the delivery of urban services and to enhance the liveability of cities, while also promoting sustainable infrastructure and smart mobility solutions. It is expected that these developments will eventually improve economic growth and urban development in India.

Can we call India’s smart city mission successful?

It’s difficult to make a definitive statement about the success of India’s Smart Cities Mission as a whole, as it is a large and ongoing initiative that has been met with both challenges and successes.

On one hand, the mission has led to the development of several smart city projects in the selected cities, which has improved the quality of life for citizens in those areas. For example, some of the smart city projects have led to the development of sustainable infrastructure, such as green buildings and renewable energy sources, as well as the promotion of smart mobility solutions to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

However, the implementation of the mission has also faced several challenges. One of the main challenges has been the limited capacity of the urban local bodies(ULBs) to implement such complex projects. There has also been a lack of coordination between the ULBs and the state governments, which has made it difficult to execute the various components of the mission. Additionally, there have been issues with the availability of land, as well as with the financing and operation of smart city projects.

It’s also worth noting that only 98 cities were selected under the mission, which is less than the initial goal of 100 cities, and even the 98 cities selected, some of them are yet to be able to fully utilize the fund allocated to them.

In conclusion, while the Smart Cities Mission has led to the development of several smart city projects in the selected cities and improved the quality of life for citizens in those areas, it has also faced several challenges in implementation, which have limited its overall success.

Is smart city in India an elitist concept?

The concept of a “smart city” in India, as it is being implemented through the Smart Cities Mission, has been criticized by some as being elitist. This criticism arises from a few points:

1. Selective development: Smart city projects tend to focus on developing high-end infrastructure and technology in select areas, rather than addressing the basic needs of all citizens across the city. This can result in exclusive, upscale areas that only serve a small percentage of the population.
2. Displacement: Smart city development projects often involve the acquisition of land and the displacement of existing communities, particularly those who are informal settlers or slum dwellers.
3. Exclusion of the poor: Smart city projects are often driven by private investment, which can lead to the exclusion of low-income citizens and marginalized communities who cannot afford the services and amenities provided by the smart city.
4. Limited participation in planning and execution: The citizens themselves may not have enough representation in decision making and planning, leading to the lack of understanding and thus ownership of the proposed development among citizens.

However, it is worth noting that the Smart Cities Mission does include provisions for affordable housing, inclusivity and citizen participation, but the execution and the actual outcome may not have met the expectations.

It’s worth to mention that the Smart Cities Mission is still ongoing, it is not a finished project, so there’s a lot that can be done to address these criticisms and ensure that the development of smart cities in India benefits all citizens, rather than just a select few.

Why does no one talk about smart cities these days?

The concept of “smart cities” has been a topic of interest and discussion in recent years, but it is possible that the level of discussion and attention paid to it may have decreased recently. There could be a few reasons for this:

1. Shift in priorities: As with any topic, the public and media’s attention can shift to other issues. Smart cities may no longer be at the forefront of people’s minds or considered a priority.
2. Limited progress: Despite the high level of interest in smart cities in the past, progress on smart city development in India may have been slower than expected. This could have led to a decrease in discussion about smart cities as people’s interest in it might have waned.
3. Criticism and skepticism: As mentioned before, the concept of smart cities has faced criticism from some quarters, and this could have led to a decline in enthusiasm for the topic. As well as, concerns about its potential as an elitist and displacement-causing concept also might have led to less attention on smart cities.
4. Inconclusive results: Another reason could be the lack of substantial results in smart city projects. While some progress has been made in certain areas, the impact of smart city development may not have been as visible or significant as initially anticipated. This could have dampened interest in the topic among the public and media.

It is worth noting that smart cities are a complex topic and the interest in it can be affected by multiple factors and it does not necessarily mean that smart cities is not important for the development of cities.