Which is the smart city in India? Why?
The concept of smart cities in India is not limited to a single city but encompasses a wide range of cities across the country. Here are some key points to understand the scope and examples of smart cities in India:
Smart Cities Mission
The Government of India launched the Smart Cities Mission in 2015, aiming to develop 100 cities as smart cities. This mission focuses on making cities citizen-friendly and sustainable through various development strategies24.
Selected Cities
A total of 100 cities were selected for this mission, spread across different states. Some of the notable cities include:
- Bhubaneswar, Pune, Jaipur, Surat, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Visakhapatnam, and others in the first round of selections.
- Cities like New Delhi, Chennai, Indore, Agra, and many more were also included in subsequent phases2.
Development Models
The smart city development in India follows three main models:
- Retrofitting: Redesigning existing built-up areas to make them more livable and efficient.
- Redevelopment: Transforming existing areas with innovative planning and enhanced infrastructure.
- Greenfield Development: Developing new areas with innovative planning to meet the growing population's needs14.
Core Elements
The core elements of smart city infrastructure in India include:
- Assured supply of electricity and water
- Solid waste management and sanitation
- Efficient urban mobility and public transport
- Affordable housing
- Digitalisation and IT connectivity
- Sustainable environment
- Good governance
- Health and education
- Security of citizens1.
Examples of Smart City Initiatives
Cities like Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Indore are often cited as examples of successful smart city initiatives. For instance, Bhubaneswar has implemented various smart projects, and cities like Agra are working on projects such as smart health centers and smart classes in municipal schools4.
In summary, the smart city initiative in India is a broad program that includes multiple cities, each with its own set of development projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life, economic growth, and sustainability.