Smart Cities Mission — Urban Development Schemes

What is Smart Cities Mission?

Smart Cities Mission is the Government of India's flagship urban development programme that aims to transform 100 selected cities across India into smart, sustainable, and citizen-friendly urban centres. Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, it funds technology-driven improvements in civic infrastructure.

Key Focus Areas

100 Selected Smart Cities

Selected through competitive challenge rounds. Cities in each state:

Large metros: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune

State capitals: Jaipur, Bhopal, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla, Panaji, Imphal

Tier 2 cities: Surat, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Agra, Varanasi, Amritsar, Visakhapatnam, Faridabad, and others

Check if your city is listed: smartcities.gov.in/city-list

How Citizens Benefit

Practical improvements in daily life:

1. Better public transport — AC buses, integrated ticketing, real-time bus tracking apps
2. 24-hour water supply — water quality sensors, no tanker dependency
3. Faster civic services — online grievances, digital birth/death certificates at city portal
4. Cleaner public spaces — smart waste bins, automated collection routes
5. Safer streets — street lighting, surveillance cameras, emergency helplines
6. Business access — faster trade licences, single-window approvals online

Integrated Command & Control Centres (ICCC)

A core deliverable of Smart Cities Mission — each city builds an ICCC that:

• Monitors traffic, utilities, weather in real time on a central dashboard
• Enables emergency response coordination (police, fire, ambulance)
• Provides a citizen grievance platform
• Tracks water supply, energy consumption, and waste collection

ICCCs were operational in 70+ cities by 2024.

Funding Pattern

Total allocation: ₹2.05 lakh crore across all 100 cities over the programme period.

How to Check Projects in Your City

1. Go to smartcities.gov.in
2. Click on your city name from the map or city list
3. View:
   • Projects sanctioned and their status
   • Budget allocated and spent
   • Ongoing and completed works
4. Use the SCM Dashboard to track progress

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can I as a citizen gain directly from Smart Cities Mission?

Better roads, cleaner water, faster bus service, brighter streets, online civic services, and public Wi-Fi are the most visible citizen benefits. The improvements are in the public domain — no application is needed.

2. My city is not in the 100 smart cities. Do I benefit at all?

AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) covers 500 cities for water and sanitation. PMAY-U covers housing. Smart Cities Mission specifically covers only the 100 selected cities.

3. How do I raise a complaint about poor quality work under Smart Cities Mission?

Raise it through your city's Smart City portal or the grievance section at smartcities.gov.in. You can also use the PG Portal (pgportal.gov.in) for escalation.

4. Is Smart Cities Mission still active in 2024-25?

The original mission period ended in 2024 but project completion timelines have been extended. The ICCC infrastructure and projects are ongoing. Check smartcities.gov.in for latest status in your city.

5. Which Smart City project has the most impact on poor residents?

Affordable housing (under PMAY-U slum redevelopment), clean water supply, and public bus transport under Smart Cities are most impactful for lower-income residents.

Official Links