The population of urban areas is increasing every day as people moves towards cities in search for work. The urban India contributes about 60% of India’s GDP and is expected to increase up to 75% in the next 15 years. The cities need to become smarter to handle this urbanization.
The smart cities should be able to provide good infrastructure such as water, sanitation, reliable utility services, health care; attract investments; transparent processes that make commercial activities easy and other services for citizens to make them feel safe and happy.
The Cabinet had approved Rs 48000 crore investment on urban development under Smart Cities Mission.
Under smart cities initiative, the main focus will be on core infrastructure services like:
- Adequate and clean Water supply
- Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
- Efficient Urban Mobility and Public Transportation
- Affordable housing for the poor
- Power supply
- Robust IT connectivity
- Governance, especially e-governance and citizen participation
- Safety and security of citizens
- Health and education
- Sustainable urban environment.
This scheme will promote the adoption of smart solutions for using available resources efficiently.
There will be special emphasis on participation of citizens in prioritizing and planning urban interventions.
The implementation will be done through ‘area based approach’ which will consist of retrofitting, redevelopment, pan-city initiatives and development of new cities.
