Smart Cities Mission: Progress And Challenges

In early July, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reported 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. This milestone prompts a crucial question: What were the original goals of the Smart Cities Mission, and how successful has it been in achieving them? In Indian cities where flooding and deteriorating infrastructure are common concerns, the concept of "smart cities" might seem disconnected from the reality of urban development. Manisha Natarajan delves into this topic 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.