OPINION

India’s Smart Cities Mission: A Decade of High‑Tech Projects Amid Ground‑Level Gaps

Launched in 2015 with a promise of cleaner, digitally governed urban spaces, the Smart Cities Mission has delivered thousands of high‑tech installations across 100 Indian cities. Yet on the ground, many residents still grapple with basic service failures, prompting a debate over whether the initiative built smart cities or merely smart projects.

By Open Vaartha Desk · 2026-08-04

TL;DR

A decade after its launch, India's Smart Cities Mission has delivered high‑tech projects but largely failed to create fully smart, inclusive urban environments.

Key points

The Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015 with a budget exceeding ₹2 lakh crore for 100 cities
Area‑Based Development focused on select neighbourhoods rather than whole‑city upgrades
CAG audits flagged delays, weak planning, slow fund utilisation and fragmented project execution
Many investments prioritized beautification and digital infrastructure over basic services like drainage and affordable housing
Command and Control Centres proved useful during COVID‑19 but cannot replace weak municipal governance

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) in June 2015, the government pledged more than ₹2 lakh crore to transform 100 Indian cities. The vision was bold: cleaner streets, intelligent traffic systems, digital governance, efficient waste management, safe public spaces and "smart" infrastructure that would redefine urban living.The programme adopted an "Area‑Based Development" model, steering away from blanket city‑wide upgrades. Instead, each municipal authority was to select specific neighbourhoods for intensive investment, hoping that a well‑crafted showcase zone would eventually ripple outwards. On paper, the approach seemed pragmatic – develop one part of the city exceptionally well and let the model spread.A decade later, the central question remains: have Indian cities become truly "smart," or have they merely accumulated isolated smart projects?Mixed Results on the GroundUrban planners argue that the area‑based strategy has produced a patchwork of development. While some zones boast smart roads, LED lighting, integrated command and control centres, CCTV surveillance, Wi‑Fi hotspots, smart classrooms and riverfront beautification, large swathes of the same cities continue to suffer from poor roads, flooding, traffic snarls and inadequate public services. Residents repeatedly ask, "If only 5‑10 % of a city becomes ‘smart,’ can the whole city be called a Smart City?"Thousands of Projects, Limited IntegrationAcross the nation, the mission has rolled out:<ul><li>Smart roads and cycle tracks</li><li>Integrated command and control centres</li><li>CCTV surveillance networks</li><li>Public Wi‑Fi zones</li><li>LED street lighting</li><li>Smart classrooms</li><li>Riverfront beautification and public plazas</li></ul>Many of these installations are functional, yet experts note that they often operate as stand‑alone infrastructure rather than components of a cohesive urban ecosystem. The result, according to several scholars, is a collection of individual projects instead of an integrated smart city framework.Audit Findings by the CAGThe Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlighted several implementation challenges:<ul><li>Delays in project execution and fund utilisation</li><li>Weak project planning in certain cities</li><li>Slow constitution of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)</li><li>Incomplete projects beyond scheduled timelines</li><li>Weak monitoring and coordination across the mission</li></ul>While many projects have reached completion, the audit underscores that implementation has been uneven across the 100 cities.Where Did the Money Go?The SCM’s massive budget—over ₹2 lakh crore sourced from the Centre, state governments, urban local bodies and private investors—has been heavily channelled into beautification, streetscaping, decorative lighting and urban redesign. Critics argue that these aesthetic upgrades have often eclipsed essential services such as drainage, affordable housing, sewage, water supply and reliable public transport.Technology vs. GovernanceCommand and Control Centres (CCCs) are frequently touted as the mission’s backbone, aggregating CCTV feeds, traffic management data, emergency response coordination, disaster monitoring and public‑service dashboards. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, many CCCs proved valuable for emergency coordination. However, urban governance experts caution that technology cannot substitute for robust municipal capacity; a smart dashboard does little if roads remain broken or drainage systems are neglected.Challenges for Smaller MunicipalitiesSmaller cities and towns continue to wrestle with basic urban woes: drinking‑water shortages, irregular waste collection, encroachments, monsoon flooding and a lack of public transport. For many residents, the "smart city" label feels disconnected from daily realities.Impact on Urban InequalityResearchers warn that the area‑based model may unintentionally widen inequality. Concentrated investment in select zones creates "islands of development" where modern public spaces sit alongside neighbouring areas lacking basic sanitation or reliable services.Measuring SuccessOfficial reports celebrate thousands of completed projects, improved digital governance, energy‑efficient lighting, enhanced surveillance and modern public infrastructure. Yet citizens evaluate success through everyday lenses:<ul><li>Can I reach work without traffic?</li><li>Does my street flood each monsoon?</li><li>Is drinking water reliably supplied?</li><li>Is public transport dependable?</li><li>Is my neighbourhood clean?</li></ul>If these questions remain unanswered, the "Smart City" tag loses substantive meaning.The Bigger LessonThe overarching takeaway is that technology alone cannot render a city smart. True smartness emerges when governance improves, public services become reliable, planning is inclusive and development reaches every neighbourhood—not just showcase zones. Nearly a decade after its launch, the Smart Cities Mission has undeniably modernised parts of many Indian cities and introduced technologies previously absent. The lingering debate, however, centers on whether India has built truly smart cities or merely embedded smart projects within otherwise ordinary urban landscapes.The conversation will continue as policymakers, planners and citizens assess the mission’s legacy and chart the next phase of urban transformation.