The rapid urbanisation in India necessitates the resolution of numerous concerns including vehicular pollution, ageing infrastructure and the need to provide housing, transportation and employment opportunities for a diverse population with varying incomes. In line with this, the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) is one of the most ambitious government programmes launched for urban renewal and transformation.
As of November 2023, under the mission, work orders have been issued for 7,959 projects worth around Rs 1.71 trillion. Of these, about 6,271 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 1.16 trillion have been completed. A total of Rs 78.74 trillion has been released for the programme, of which around 90 per cent, amounting to Rs 71.13 trillion, has been utilised.
Indian smart cities are anticipated to be the focal point of economic activities. Nevertheless, they must grow in an environmentally responsible manner. The current urbanisation trend has detrimental effects, as evidenced by the high pollution levels in many Indian cities, which pose significant challenges to environmental and ecological sustainability. To overcome these issues, it is necessary to develop and execute policies that promote environmentally sustainable economic expansion.
Aligning with the green agenda
The purpose of the SCM is to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for people by enabling local area development and harnessing technology, especially those technologies that lead to smart outcomes. Another key infrastructure element of smart cities is deploying smart mobility solutions to provide low-cost, environment-friendly and convenient options.
This focus on providing sustainable and inclusive development through habitable cities that attract talent and innovation is what will bring economic prosperity, while also achieving sustainability. Since its launch in 2015, the mission has utilised technology to improve infrastructure, waste and water management, integrated traffic management and the safety of cities.
Responsible approach
Infrastructure development and sustainability are closely interconnected, as evidenced by the strong emphasis on promoting clean energy and sustainable green growth within the sector.
As per a report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the UN-Habitat, the mission now has around 8,000 projects. The majority of these projects have contributed to 15 of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Furthermore, approximately 44 per cent of the projects are striving towards achieving SDG 11, which entails making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Approximately 13.3 per cent of the SCM projects contribute to SDG 6, which pertains to clean water and sanitation. In addition, around 8.6 per cent contribute to SDG 7, which focuses on affordable and clean energy and 6.4 per cent contribute to SDG 8, generating economic growth.
Tracking tangible outcomes
Overall, under the mission, about 0.5 million solar/LED street lights have been installed. A total of 89,000 km of underground electricity cabling has been constructed. Over 700 tonnes per day of waste-to-energy processing capacity has been installed. The utilisation of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), a technology-driven solution, has been implemented to enhance the effectiveness of water supply and sanitation systems. Additionally, over 50 cities are implementing advanced technologies to enhance solid waste management, resulting in enhanced route management and collection efficiency.
An SCM initiative in Ahmedabad for the implementation of sensor-based surveillance on the water network led to an increase in the daily water supply by 50 million litres per day (mld) through identification and rectification of leaks. This has resulted in benefiting a population of 0.25 million.
In another project in Indore, a gravity-based system was implemented to effectively halt the flow of 205 mld of untreated sewage into the Kahn river, the Saraswati river and a network of 25 drains. The current measurement of dissolved oxygen in water bodies amounts to 4 mg per litre, suggesting an improved state of the aquatic ecosystem.
The Mudasarlova reservoir floating solar plant in Visakhapatnam has achieved an annual electricity generation of 3,613 MWh, resulting in cost savings of $0.28 million and averting the release of almost 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Projects and initiatives such as these demonstrate the effective execution of a large-scale urban initiative that fully corresponds with global objectives and enables cities to lead the way in promoting sustainable development.
Data-driven decision-making is at the core of smart cities. City officials can now utilise sensors and interconnected devices to gather extensive data, which can be used to optimise traffic flow, decrease energy usage and improve public safety. For instance, a specialised video surveillance system has been designed and implemented in Varanasi through extensive collaboration between Varanasi Smart City Limited and the municipal corporation. Furthermore, in an effort to revolutionise the city, the development of a centralised command and control system for pan-level monitoring of city operations has also been implemented, demonstrating India’s potential to become a global leader in smart urban development.
The mission has been a game changer for another Tier II city, Agra, with the city now having adequate water supply, drainage, sewerage and rainwater harvesting systems to improve the city’s resilience to natural disasters; and improved roads to enhance accessibility to the highly sought-after tourist destination.
Chennai has also demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability by implementing solar roofing on government buildings, establishing biogas plants using water hyacinth and replacing SVL lights with LED lights.
Scope of improvement
Given its demographics and diversity, unique challenges and opportunities exist in India, for developing smart cities, which attract increased investment, employ innovative technology and create environmentally sustainable solutions. Similarly, under the multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral and multi-layered programme, SCM has faced its share of challenges.
In terms of implementation, the mission has faced challenges with delays and cost overruns being common occurrences, hindering the objective of sustainability, despite being aligned to environmental, social and governance and SDGs.
Citizens have expressed privacy concerns due to the mission’s focus on data collection and monitoring. The emphasis on infrastructural development and technological progress has overpowered the fundamental requirements of citizens and the promised improvement in their day-to-day lives.
It is imperative to promote citizen engagement and inclusivity by fostering transparent decision-making procedures, especially for marginalised communities that often feel neglected in the development process and integrating their input into the planning and implementation of smart city projects.
In sum
For India to have a positive impact, core infrastructure sectors such as water and sanitation, housing, transportation and mobility, urban planning and smart energy infrastructure must be led by sustainable and renewable energy resources. In line with this, in May 2023, the Kerala government launched an ambitious project to promote the use of solar power in the state. As per media reports, the state government plans to turn every rooftop in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram into a solar energy-producing station. With this, the state is expected to become one of the largest “solar cities” in the country.
Smart cities in India can derive numerous advantages from sustainable urbanisation, ranging from energy conservation to establishing a balanced and inclusive living environment. Going forward, implementing policies that support environmentally friendly infrastructure, encourage private investments in sustainable projects and provide tax advantages for eco-friendly projects may accelerate the transition of the Indian urban landscape. Innovative technology should also be incorporated into governance to enhance the quality of life, while also minimising the environmental effects of urban development. Hence, ensuring environmental, social and economic sustainability is imperative in order to cope with the fast expansion that is straining city resources.
Naina Gulati