The Smart Cities Mission is an initiative by the Government of India to develop 100 cities across the country into citizen-friendly and sustainable urban spaces
. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the mission on June 25, 2015, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life through efficient services, robust infrastructure, and a sustainable environment
. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with state governments
. The Smart Cities Mission aims to improve urban areas by
:
- Employing technology to create smart outcomes
- Developing local areas
- Creating citizen-friendly and sustainable cities
- Providing a decent quality of life to citizens
- Promoting economic growth
The mission's strategic components are
:
- City improvement (retrofitting).
- City renewal (redevelopment).
- City extension (greenfield development).
- Pan-city initiatives (smart solutions applied city-wide).
The mission is implemented through an Area-Based Development (ABD) approach, where each city selects a defined area for targeted interventions, serving as a replicable model for other areas
. The Smart Cities Mission also requires the active participation of smart people in governance and reforms
. As of January 2025, 7,479 out of 8,058 tendered projects have been completed, utilizing ₹150,002 crores out of the total tendered amount of ₹164,368 crore
. The mission period has been extended to March 31, 2025, to complete ongoing projects
