Patna's Smart Cities Mission Hampered by Poor Planning and Deficient Financial Management

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) criticized the execution of the Smart Cities Mission in Patna, noting that deficient financial management, poor planning, and inclusion of unfeasible projects led to delayed or incomplete project execution. The report also highlighted poor contract management and the necessity to revise and drop several initially approved projects.

The Smart Cities Mission in Patna has been hindered by deficient financial management and poor planning, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). The inclusion of unfeasible projects contributed to delays and incomplete executions.

The report criticized both Patna Smart City Limited (PSCL) and Bihar's Urban Development and Housing Department (UD&HD) for their roles in the flawed planning. Notably, funds were diverted to unapproved projects, and incorrect utilization certificates were submitted.

Contract management also failed to meet objectives, with issues such as vendor payment without finalized scope of work. As of October 2022, 29 of 44 approved projects couldn't start due to feasibility issues. These projects were dropped, and new projects were added, but several active projects remain behind schedule.