A review meeting of the Chandigarh Smart City Advisory Committee was convened on Monday to assess the progress of the ongoing Smart City projects. The session primarily focused on evaluating the accomplishments under the Smart City Mission and determining the future course of action for the transfer of assets once the mission concludes in March 2025.
During the meeting, officials informed the committee that a total of ₹853 crore has been invested in 36 Smart City initiatives over the past decade. While the funds have largely been utilised, ₹53 crore remains earmarked for pending operational expenditures. A significant portion of the allocated budget, ₹304 crore, was directed towards the establishment of sewage treatment plants (STPs), while ₹334 crore was utilised for the development of an integrated command and control complex. The remaining funds were spread across various supporting projects designed to enhance urban infrastructure and public services.
City Member of Parliament Manish Tewari, who chaired the meeting, raised concerns about the future of the assets created as part of the Smart City initiatives. Specifically, he questioned the accountability for these projects once the mission came to an end. Tewari emphasised the need for a well-structured handover process to ensure that the advancements made under the mission are preserved and maintained effectively.
In response, officials assured the committee that the responsibility for maintaining and operating the projects would be transferred to the relevant government departments. For instance, the integrated command and control centre, a cornerstone of the city’s Smart City infrastructure, will be handed over to the Department of Information Technology. Similarly, the sewage treatment plants will be transferred to the Municipal Corporation (MC) for continued operation and management.
The meeting also saw the participation of key stakeholders, including Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Amit Kumar, District Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, and other Smart City officials. Together, they discussed the importance of ensuring the smooth transition of assets and the long-term sustainability of the investments made over the years.
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Tewari also urged officials to prioritise a seamless transfer of assets and ensure that the projects do not fall into neglect after the mission’s conclusion. He stressed the need for effective collaboration between the departments to maintain the standards set during the implementation of the mission.
As the Smart City Mission nears its completion, the review meeting underscored the critical need for ongoing attention to the maintenance of the developed assets. The successful handover of responsibilities to the respective departments will be pivotal in ensuring that the transformative urban infrastructure created under the mission continues to benefit the residents of Chandigarh for years to come.
