Smart cities get stuck in slow lane

Projects facing delays because of lukewarm response from private players and operational challenges

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Smart Cities Mission has made only halting progress since its launch two years ago. Lukewarm response from private investors and turf battles between government agencies have ensured projects are off to a slow start.

The National Democratic Alliance government had launched the Smart City Mission in June 2015, with the aim to convert 100 cities into ‘smart cities’ and improve the quality of life through facilities such as adequate water and electricity supply, sanitation, public transport, solid waste management, safety, health, education, intelligent traffic management system, CCTV surveillance and e-governance. 

The idea was to develop