The Central Government’s ambitious Smart City Mission was launched in 2015 with the aim of making 100 cities in the country smart. Eight years have passed since then, but the work on 68 smart cities, due to be completed by January 2023, is still incomplete. The parliamentary committee expressed disappointment at this and ordered the government to speed up this work. To complete the work of these cities, the mission period has been extended to June 2023. Under the Smart City Mission, cities are to be improved by connecting them with information and digital technology through public-private partnerships (PPPs). This will improve the vital needs and life of people.
This will lead to sustainable and inclusive development. Funding of Rs 7,20,0000 crore has been made to make the mission successful. According to the Union Urban and Housing Ministry, 22 cities will soon complete all their projects this year. All the states of the country except Bengal are involved in this mission. Greater Mumbai, Nagpur, Amravati, Solapur, Kalyan Dombivali, Aurangabad, Pune, Pipri Chinchwad cities are included in Smart City Mission.
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Under this scheme, there is a provision to give financial assistance of Rs 100 crore on average to each city. The central government will contribute Rs 50 crore and the state government or union territory will contribute Rs 50 crore. Smart cities will provide cities with the following facilities: adequate water supply, guaranteed energy supply, sanitation, including solid waste disposal, efficient public transportation, affordable housing for the poor, strong IT connectivity and digitization, sustainable environment , electronic government and citizen participation, citizens especially But security and better health facilities for women, children and the elderly.
The lack of coordination, the delay in the release of funds, the indifferent attitude or the lethargy of some officials are responsible for the general advance in the schemes related to the smart city. It is seen that due to the lack of coordination between the departments, again and again a road is opened only for laying, laying the water supply line or laying the sewer line. Even the work of building a culvert could not be completed for several months. There are so many reasons to fall behind the goal of the Prime Minister’s dream project.