Smart Cities Mission Extended Till March 2025

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has announced the extension of the Smart Cities Mission until March 2025. Launched in June 2015, the Smart Cities Mission represents a groundbreaking initiative in India’s urban development landscape. This mission has introduced various innovative concepts such as competitive selection among cities for the designation of 100 smart cities, stakeholder-driven project selection, the formation of Special Purpose Vehicles for implementation, and the use of technology and digital solutions to enhance urban governance. Additionally, third-party impact evaluations have been conducted by leading academic and professional institutions.

Achievements and Progress

Since its inception, the Smart Cities Mission has led to the development of diverse and unique projects across the 100 cities, aimed at improving urban infrastructure and achieving broader transformational goals. As of July 3, 2024, these cities have completed 7,188 projects, accounting for 90% of the total projects, with an investment of ₹1,44,237 crore. The remaining 830 projects, worth ₹19,926 crore, are nearing completion.

Financially, the mission has seen substantial progress. The Government of India (GOI) allocated a budget of ₹48,000 crore for the 100 cities, out of which ₹46,585 crore (97% of the allocated budget) has been released. Of the funds disbursed, 93% have been utilized to date. Full financial support under the mission has been extended to 74 out of the 100 cities.

Extension Rationale

The extension until March 2025 was granted following numerous requests from state and city government representatives for additional time to complete the remaining 10% of projects. These projects, delayed due to various on-ground challenges, are in advanced stages of implementation. The extension aims to ensure the completion of these projects, thereby enhancing the quality of life in urban areas. Importantly, the extension will not involve any additional costs beyond the already approved financial allocation under the mission. All ongoing projects are now expected to be completed by March 31, 2025.

Conclusion

The Smart Cities Mission has been a transformative initiative, significantly contributing to the urban development of India’s cities. The extension till March 2025 underscores the government’s commitment to completing the mission’s objectives, ensuring improved urban infrastructure, and enhancing the ease of living for residents in these smart cities.