Smart Cities Are Losing Their Edge: A Growing Concern

Key Takeaways

Bengaluru and Pune experienced severe waterlogging after pre-monsoon rains, highlighting maintenance shortcomings in ‘smart cities.’
The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) shifted focus from innovation to basic urban infrastructure, leaving unresolved questions about its future.
The parliamentary committee urged guidelines for sustainable management of smart city resources, but no action has been taken.

Bengaluru and Pune, two cities branded as ‘smart,’ faced significant waterlogging after recent pre-monsoon showers. This situation underscores that a city’s intelligence is not determined by technology alone but rather by the consistent and effective maintenance of its infrastructure.

Launched in 2014, the Indian government’s Smart Cities Mission (SCM) aimed to employ technology to tackle urban challenges, including traffic congestion and flooding. However, the mission’s scope has increasingly narrowed, focusing on renovating existing urban areas and improving essential services like housing, water supply, electricity, and public transport. To date, approximately 8,000 projects worth ₹1.64 lakh crore have been greenlit under SCM.

The mission officially ended on March 31, leaving many cities, including their Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and integrated command and control centers (ICCCs), uncertain about their future status. These ICCCs were integral to real-time, data-driven decision-making in managing urban issues.

Recognizing this gap, the parliamentary standing committee on housing and urban affairs recommended the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) establish guidelines for SPVs to ensure ongoing operations post-mission. Unfortunately, no steps have been taken to implement these recommendations, raising concerns about the effective use of public funds.

Neglecting to foster a culture of maintenance and performance monitoring may lead to the repetitive cycle of rebuilding urban infrastructure every decade. The essence of being a ‘smart city’ lies in sustainable upkeep and management, and without this commitment, cities may continue to deteriorate despite substantial financial investments.

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