Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

  • December 3, 2021
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

Subject – Governance

Context – The deadline for completing projects under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was extended for all 100 participating cities to June 2023 due to the delays caused by COVID¬19 and based on a NITI Aayog recommendation in August, according to Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry sources.

Concept –

  • Smart Cities Mission was launched by the Hon’ Prime Minister on 25 June, 2015.
  • The main objective of the Mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’.
  • It is under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • The Mission aims to drive economic growth and improve quality of life through comprehensive work on social, economic, physical and institutional pillars of the city.
  • The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development by creation of replicable models which act as lighthouses to other aspiring cities. 100 cities have been selected to be developed as Smart Cities through a two-stage competition.
  • The Mission is operated as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
    • Central Government will give financial support to the extent of Rs. 48,000 crores over 5 years i.e. on an average Rs.100 crore per city per year.
    • An equal amount on a matching basis is to be provided by the State/ULB.
    • Additional resources are to be raised through convergence, from ULBs’ own funds, grants under Finance Commission, innovative finance mechanisms such as Municipal Bonds, other government programs and borrowings.
  • Emphasis has been given on the participation of private sector through Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
  • There is no standard definition or template of a smart city.

In the context of our country, the six fundamental principles on which the concept of Smart Cities is based are:

  • Strategy:
    • Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart Solution is applied city-wide.
    • Develop areas step-by-step with the help of these three models:
      • Retrofitting
      • Redevelopment
      • Greenfield
    • Coverage and Duration: The Mission covers 100 cities for the duration of five years starting from the financial year (FY) 2015-16 to 2019-20.
Governance Smart Cities Mission (SCM)