Streamlining India’s SMART cities

Such largescale migration undeniably causes a strain on existing infrastructure and increases the demand for public services. Conventionally fragmented cities with limited modes of transportation thereby suffer from severe traffic congestion, which in turn leads to increased pollution and longer commute times. Meanwhile, a lack of adequate housing in the urban side insinuates the growth of unauthorised settlements, exacerbating problems like water supply and sanitation.

In light of these issues, the government of India launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 to develop 100 smart cities across the country. This constituted an initial sum of IN₹480bn, which was to be allocated over five years.

A smart city is a technologically-driven, modern urban area that uses different types of electronic platforms and sensors to collect data and connect the city into one unit. The information gained is used to manage assets, resources, and services more efficiently and, in return, seamlessly conduct operations across the city.

Going by their name, smart cities utilise new-age technological accelerators like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which allow data to be collected and transmitted in real-time across various functions – i.e., urban services, energy consumption and traffic management. They further encourage the adoption of sustainable practices and up-take of renewable energy, with a goal to reduce the overall environmental footprint.

As of present, the Smart Cities India mission has a portfolio of 8,006 projects worth IN₹1,707.79bn, out of which 81% of the projects (worth IN₹1,270.31bn) are completed.

This macro-PDF series examines the opportunities arising from the creation of smart cities in India from a People, Development, and Financial angle.