India’s urban landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by the Government of India’s landmark initiative, the ‘Smart Cities Mission’. Launched in 2015, the Mission is committed to reinventing urban administration, infrastructure, and public services to create technology-driven and future-ready cities. As the Mission nears its extended deadline of March 2025, it is vital to assess its impact, celebrate the triumphs, and analyse the road ahead. In the meantime, the Mission has shown that when vision joins execution, cities can become catalysts of expansion and technological innovation.
An example of this transformation is Surat, a city that has successfully leveraged ‘smart’ governance to enhance urban management. Among other initiatives, the town successfully integrated real-time data systems via its Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) to emerge as an efficiency model for others to emulate. The command centre was particularly useful during the pandemic and facilitated an integrated response by connecting hospitals, supply chains, and citizen services.
The evolution of urban India is driven by a booming population and rapid industrialisation, attracting a large number of migrants who seek better opportunities. This has created the need to bolster the infrastructure and incorporate digitisation across public systems to enable ease of living for millions of citizens. Under the Smart Cities Mission, just over 8,000 development, redevelopment and greenfield projects have been cleared across 100 cities, of which 7,491 (93%) projects, with an investment of ₹1,50,157 crore, are completed. These projects cover urban mobility & public transport, electricity & water supply, waste segregation, management & recycling, affordable housing, education & healthcare facilities, creation of green spaces, and digitisation of public services, among others, across 100 model cities in the country.
The heart of the smart cities is the Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) that have transformed how municipal governments function. Meanwhile, smart solutions are being incorporated into energy management, urban mobility, utility management, as well as in e-governmence and citizen-centric services, and the fields of health, education, traffic control, public safety, etc. Most of the projects are being implemented as public-private partnerships and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to ensure the success of the Mission. Moreover, the Mission has provided a platform for converging several Government of India initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, HRIDAY, AMRUT, Digital India, etc.
Today, the Smart Cities Mission is not only improving the quality of life of millions by enabling local area development and harnessing technology; it is contributing towards wholesome economic growth. Hundreds of startups in mobility, smart home devices & solutions, smart metering, rooftop solar, energy efficiency, e-health, e-education, home security, telecom & communication services, digital payments, etc, have mushroomed in recent years catering to diverse needs of the citizens and the local government. As a result, India’s smart city technologies market has registered remarkable growth and is expected to become a $48 billion segment by 2031.
The Smart Cities India expo continues to be the game-changer and the leading platform for startups and businesses dealing in technologies and solutions capable of revolutionising India’s urban landscape. It facilitates coordination between governments and technology providers to pool the expertise needed to implement and integrate the latest and innovative technologies for the public good. The expo also provides opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, perhaps the best way to mark growth.
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Quelle/Source: Communications Today, 19.02.2025
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