Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2015.
Scheme:
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Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
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Objective: To promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
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Cities: 100 cities have been selected to be developed as Smart Cities under the mission. A minimum of five years is given for a city to be completed.
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Under the mission, the government aims to focus on innovative digital technologies interlinked with its ‘Digital India’, providing technology solutions such as surveillance systems to reduce crime and improve the safety of residents. Projects related to e-governance, mobility, integrated traffic management and solid waste management have also been envisaged.
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Implementation: The implementation of the Mission at the City level will be done by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). SPV is promoted by the state/Union Territory and the urban local body, with a 50% equity shareholding each. The SPV formed as a limited company is governed by the Companies Act, 2013.
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Timeline: Extended till June 2023.
What is a Smart City?
There is no standard definition or template of a smart city. In the context of our country, the six fundamental principles on which the concept of Smart Cities is based are:
