Article Title: Smart Cities Mission ( SCM) deadline ended on March 31, 2025
31-03-2025
Economy Prelims Plus
Context
As per the Smart Cities Mission dashboard, the cities have completed 7,491 projects with 567 projects still ongoing till Feb, 2025.
What is the Smart Cities Mission (SCM)?
It is aCentrally Sponsored Scheme, launched in June 2015 to transform100 citiesto provide the necessarycore infrastructureand clean andsustainable environmentto enable a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of"Smart Solutions".
It aimed to improve the quality of life for citizens through sustainable andinclusive development.
Objectives:
Provide core infrastructure and decent quality of life
Clean and sustainable environment
Application of ‘Smart’ Solutions
Sustainable and inclusive development
Replicable model
Components of the SCM:
Area-based Development:
Redevelopment:Renewal of existing urban areas to improve infrastructure and amenitiesE.g. Bhendi Bazar, Mumbai.
Retrofitting:Upgrading infrastructure in existing areas to make them more efficient and sustainableE.g. Local Area Development (Ahmedabad).
Greenfield Projects:Development of new urban areas with a focus on sustainability and smart technologiesE.g. New Town, Kolkata, Naya Raipur, GIFT City.
Pan-City Solutions:
Implementation ofInformation and Communication Technology (ICT)solutions across various sectors such ase-governance, waste management, water management, energy management, urban mobility, and skill development.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was created under theCompanies Act, 2013led by a bureaucrat or a representative of a multinational corporation (MNC) in each smart city for governance.
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