India’s Ambitious Smart City Mission Progresses with 8,000 Projects Worth Rs 1.6 Lakh Crore

Over 8,000 projects under India's Smart City Mission are underway, totaling approximately Rs 1.6 lakh crore. Launched in 2015, the initiative aims to provide core infrastructure, a sustainable environment, and a high quality of life. Key achievements include extensive CCTV installations, smart classrooms, and advanced waste management.

More than 8,000 multi-sectoral projects are underway under India's ambitious 100 Smart City projects, with a total investment of approximately Rs 1.6 lakh crore, according to an official government update.

Launched on June 25, 2015, the Smart City Mission aims to provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and a decent quality of life to citizens. The initiative also seeks to address the diverse needs of residents, creating dynamic urban spaces that can serve as models for other cities. So far, over 83,000 CCTV surveillance cameras have been installed in these Smart Cities.

Additionally, more than half of the 100 cities are utilizing technology to manage solid waste, improving route management, and collection efficiency. The mission has also developed 7,654 smart classrooms, 40 digital libraries, 172 e-health centers, and installed 155 health ATMs. The government update highlighted that 21 incubation centers and 56 market redevelopment projects have been completed.

In early July, the government announced that these cities had completed 7,188 projects, representing 90% of the mission, amounting to Rs 144,237 crore. Another 830 projects worth Rs 19,926 crore were in advanced stages of completion. Described as a novel experiment in India's urban development, the Smart Cities Mission employs several innovative approaches, including competition among cities, stakeholder-driven project selection, and the deployment of digital solutions.

All ongoing projects are expected to be completed by March 31, 2025, according to the government.

(With inputs from agencies.)