**Executive Summary:**
This document presents the criteria and progress of the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) as of July 11, 2025, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2056. It details the selection process, project status, mechanisms for transparency and accountability, sustainability measures, and impact assessments. The financial closure of the Mission was on March 31, 2025, with an advisory issued on June 10, 2025, for timely project completion and O&M plans.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Smart Cities Mission (SCM) Approach:**
* Follows an area-based development approach via retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield development in 100 cities.
* Development based on Smart City Proposals (SCPs) across sectors like smart mobility, WASH, smart governance, smart energy, and environment.
* SCPs are approved by the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) and received from States/UTs.
* **City Selection Process:**
* 100 cities selected through a two-stage process starting January 2016, involving four rounds of selection.
* Cities were recommended by State/UT governments in the first stage and then evaluated at the National level.
* **Project Status:**
* As of 11.07.2025, 8063 projects worth ₹1,64,695 Cr were undertaken in 100 cities.
* 7,636 projects (95% of total) worth ₹1,53,977 Cr have been completed.
* State/UT and city-wise lists of completed and ongoing projects are in the Annexure.
* **Transparency, Accountability, and Public Participation:**
* Multi-level review structure to expedite project progress.
* National level: Monitored by an Apex Committee headed by Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
* State level: Monitored by the State level High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) chaired by the Chief Secretary.
* City level: Smart City Advisory Forum (SCAF) for all 100 smart cities to advise and enable collaboration among stakeholders.
* **Sustainability and Long-Term Maintenance:**
* Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) responsible for design, implementation, and operation of projects.
* SPVs jointly owned by State/UT and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) with equal shareholding.
* MoHUA Advisory No. 27 dated 10 June 2025 mandates SPVs to ensure timely project completion and prepare O&M plans.
* **Impact Assessment:**
* A mid-term evaluation study was undertaken by Niti Aayog, and the report was published in February 2021.
* NITI Aayog has initiated a Third-Party Assessment of the Mission.
* MoHUA partnered with academic institutions for thematic impact assessments to understand the impact at city and national levels and to compile learnings.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments:**
* Impact: Responsible for recommending cities, monitoring project implementation through the HPSC, and ensuring SPVs fulfill their responsibilities.
* Action Required: Oversee project progress, participate in the HPSC, and ensure SPVs comply with MoHUA advisories.
**Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):**
* Impact: Joint owners of SPVs, involved in project design, implementation, and operation.
* Action Required: Collaborate with State/UT governments in SPVs, ensure project sustainability, and prepare O&M plans.
**Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs):**
* Impact: Responsible for the design, implementation, and operation of smart city projects.
* Action Required: Ensure timely completion of ongoing projects, prepare O&M plans for assets, and comply with MoHUA Advisory No. 27.
**Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA):**
* Impact: Responsible for overall mission monitoring at the national level, issuing guidelines and advisories, and conducting impact assessments.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring project progress, disseminate learnings from impact assessments, and refine mission strategies based on evaluations.
**NITI Aayog:**
* Impact: Responsible for independent evaluation of the SCM.
* Action Required: Complete the ongoing third party assessment of the mission.
**Citizens:**
* Impact: Benefit from improved infrastructure, services, and quality of life in smart cities.
* Action Required: Participate in the Smart City Advisory Forum (SCAF) to provide input and feedback on project implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Smart Cities Mission: A Government of India initiative to develop 100 cities using an area-based development approach.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: The central government ministry responsible for the Smart Cities Mission.
High Powered Steering Committee: A committee at the State/UT level that approves Smart City Proposals.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India, involved in evaluating the Smart Cities Mission.
Urban Local Bodies: Local governing bodies in cities, jointly responsible for Special Purpose Vehicles along with State/UTs.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India with multiple cities participating in the Smart Cities Mission.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India with multiple cities participating in the Smart Cities Mission.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with multiple cities participating in the Smart Cities Mission.