Decoding Smart Cities Mission

In early July, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced that 90% of the projects under India's 100 Smart Cities Mission are now complete, with the remaining 10% expected to be finished by March 31, 2025. As we evaluate the mission's objectives and results, a key question arises: What were the goals of the Smart Cities Mission, and how successful has it been? In Indian cities where flooding and deteriorating infrastructure frequently make headlines, the concept of "smart cities" may appear at odds with the current urban development landscape. Manisha Natarajan discusses with Dr. Sameer Sharma, Former Chief Executive to Chief Minister (CE2CM), Government of Andhra Pradesh and an Urbanist and Karuna Gopal, President of Futuristic Cities and a BJP Leader.