If all progresses according to plan, all projects within the Smart City Mission (SCM) are slated for completion by June 2024. Of the total allocation of Rs 1.70 lakh crore, Rs 1.10 lakh crore has already been utilised to develop Smart Cities nationwide. According to Kunal Kumar, Director of the Smart City Mission and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Urban & Housing Affairs, the remaining Rs 60 lakh crore will be allocated towards innovative city projects by June 2024. Kumar, a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, stated during an interview with Millennium Post that 40 per cent of project works under the Smart City Mission are anticipated to be completed by December 2023, followed by 70 per cent by March 2024, and full completion by June of the following year.
Addressing the sustainability model of innovative city projects, Kumar noted, “Most Smart Cities have implemented projects in a self-sustainable manner. Surat Municipal Corporation has set an example by initiating consultancy services for other agencies. Several other Smart Cities have undertaken various innovative approaches to develop self-sustainable models for sewage treatment plants, integrated command centres, waste management systems, and more.” Kumar highlighted the community’s role in enhancing the implementation of innovative city projects, saying, “All completed projects under the mission have experienced significant community participation. Most of these projects are operational through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.” Kumar shared these insights with Millennium Post during the sidelines of the India Smart Cities Conclave 2023, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in Indore – renowned as the country’s cleanest city. The two-day conclave, commencing on Tuesday, aims to foster a dialogue among all 100 Smart Cities, leading a transformative journey in urban development by championing urban innovation.
