New Delhi: The Smart Cities Mission has been extended till March 2025, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs stated here today. It cited reasons that the Mission was getting multiple requests from some States/City government representatives, to grant some more time to complete the balance 10% projects.
Considering that these ongoing projects were in an advanced stage of implementation and got delayed due to various on-ground conditions, the Ministry said it was s in the interest of people, that these projects got completed and contributed towards the ease of living in their urban areas.
Hence, taking cognizance of these requests, the Government of India extended the Mission period up to March 31, 2025, to complete these balance 10% projects. The Ministry said this extension had been informed to the cities that it would be without any additional cost, beyond the already approved financial allocation under the Mission. All ongoing projects are now expected to be completed before March 31, 2025, it said.
The Smart Cities Mission is considered a novel experiment in India’s urban development. Since its inception in June 2015, the Mission has attempted several innovative ideas such as competition among cities for the selection of 100 smart cities, stakeholder-driven project selection, formation of smart city Special Purpose Vehicles for implementation, deployment of technology and digital solutions for improving urban governance, third-party impact evaluation by premier academic and professional institutes etc.
Each of the 100 Cities has developed a diverse set of projects, many of which are unique and implemented for the first time, thus improving the Cities’ capability and experience and achieving larger transformational goals at the city level. More than 8,000+ multi-sectoral projects are being developed by the 100 Cities amounting to around ₹ 1.6 lakh crore.
As of July 3, 2024, the 100 Cities have completed 7,188 projects (90% of total projects) amounting to ₹ 1,44,237 crore as part of the Mission. The balance of 830 projects amounting to ₹ 19,926 crore are also in advanced stages of completion.
On the financial progress, the Mission has an allocated GOI budget of ₹ 48,000 crore for the 100 Cities. As of date, the Government of India (GOI) has released ₹ 46,585 crore (97% of the allocated GOI budget) to 100 Cities. Out of these funds released to the cities, 93% have been utilized as of date. The Mission has also released full GOI financial support under the Mission to 74 out of 100 Cities.
– global bihari bureau
