Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Modi government over its Smart Cities Mission (SCM), claiming that the scheme was never intended to develop entire cities and accusing the administration of promoting a “half-baked plan” under the guise of total urban transformation.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the mission exemplifies the government’s “modus operandi” of making grand announcements, creating extensive publicity, and avoiding accountability.
“No city can truly be ‘smart’ if it fails to provide its citizens with basic dignity, such as clean water, clean air, and safety,” Gandhi wrote on his WhatsApp channel. “You surely remember the Modi government’s Smart Cities Mission, which the Prime Minister repeatedly praised.”
Half-baked scheme, claims Gandhi
Gandhi said that after questioning the government in Parliament about the outcomes of the scheme, the reality that emerged was “nothing short of a deception.” He argued that the scheme’s goal was never to develop entire cities.
“The nation was sold a half-baked scheme, packaged as a narrative of total transformation,” he said. Gandhi also questioned the government about what constitutes a Smart City, the criteria for success, the number of cities truly transformed, and the tangible improvements in citizens’ lives. He claimed the responses provided were insufficient.
“We were merely informed that approximately Rs 48,000 crore had been spent and that 97 percent of projects were deemed ‘complete’. But if everything is complete, what exactly has changed in your city?” he asked, citing ongoing issues such as contaminated water, open sewers, collapsing bridges, and deteriorating roads.
“This scheme serves as a prime example of the Modi government’s true modus operandi: grand announcements, even grander publicity, and zero accountability,” Gandhi added, urging citizens to check their cities against the list of Smart Cities.
Questions raised in parliament
Gandhi’s questions in the Lok Sabha focused on the total funds sanctioned, released, and utilised under the SCM since its inception, along with city-wise details. He also sought information on measurable indicators used to evaluate the success of cities under the mission and whether any independent assessment of the scheme’s impact on urban infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life had been conducted.
He asked whether the government considers the 100 selected cities to be Smart Cities now and the criteria used to make that assessment.
Government response
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu responded, providing details of fund utilisation and project completion. He said that out of the central government’s allocation of Rs 48,000 crore, the 100 cities selected under the scheme claimed Rs 47,458 crore, or 99 per cent of the total allocation.
As reported by the States and Union Territories, Rs 46,326 crore, or 98 per cent of the released funds, has been utilised. A total of 8,064 projects worth Rs 1,64,811 crore have been initiated under the mission, with 7,784 projects valued at Rs 1,56,159 crore completed and 280 projects worth Rs 8,652 crore still under implementation.
Mission objectives clarified
Sahu emphasised that the SCM’s objective is not to develop entire cities, but to adopt an area-based development approach. This includes retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield development, and pan-city initiatives where smart solutions are applied across parts of the city to create replicable models.
He added that NITI Aayog, in its September 2025 report titled Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Urban Transformation Sector and Skill Development, concluded that the SCM aligns with India’s urban needs and national development goals, including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The minister also provided city and Union Territory-wise details of the central financial assistance claimed under the mission.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Mathrubhumi, 31.03.2026
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