Background of the Smart Cities Initiative
The Indian government launched the "smart cities" concept in 2015, aiming to develop 100 smart cities as models of urbanization.
The initiative was based on the Internet of Things (IoT) but faced challenges due to India’s underdeveloped basic infrastructure.
Key Issues with Smart Cities
The initiative assumed that private company-like structures could deliver results, bypassing local government involvement.
The plan included pan-city proposals (IT-enabled services like mobility and waste management) and Area-Based Development (ABD), but these were limited in scope and ineffective without basic infrastructure.
Shimla's Smart City Journey
Shimla was added to the smart city list after legal challenges, with plans for retrofitting, redevelopment, and eco-friendly tourism projects.
The city’s total estimated investment was ₹2,906 crore, with mixed funding from PPPs, bonds, external loans, and government schemes.
Failure of Smart City Projects
In Shimla, only ₹707 crore (24% of the budget) has been spent, with minimal progress on key redevelopment projects.
Funds were misused on cosmetic projects like flower pots and non-operational escalators.
Traffic congestion worsened, and non-motorised mobility plans were neglected.
The Smart City Mission failed due to lack of local governance, public involvement, and accountability.
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