Smart Cities Mission Deadline Extended Till March 2025, Allowing Cities to Complete Ongoing Projects

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced on July 3 that the deadline for the Smart Cities Mission has been extended until March 2025. This extension aims to allow cities to complete the remaining 10% of projects, which are in advanced stages of implementation. This decision has been made to ensure that these critical projects are completed, enhancing the overall urban infrastructure and ease of living for residents.

Reason for Extension

The extension of the Smart Cities Mission deadline comes in response to numerous requests from state and city government representatives. These stakeholders have highlighted various on-ground conditions that have led to delays in project completion. The ministry acknowledged these challenges and emphasized the importance of completing these projects to improve urban living conditions. In a statement, the Ministry said, “The Mission has been getting multiple requests from some states/city government representatives, to grant some more time to complete the balance 10% projects. These balance ongoing projects are in an advanced stage of implementation and got delayed due to various on-ground conditions. It is in the interest of the people that these projects get completed and contribute towards the ease of living in their urban areas.”

Project Status and Financials

As of July 3, 2024, the 100 cities involved in the Smart Cities Mission have completed 7,188 projects, accounting for 90% of the total projects. These completed projects amount to ₹1,44,237 crore. The remaining 830 projects, valued at ₹19,926 crore, are in advanced stages of completion. The extension is expected to help these cities finalize these ongoing projects by the new deadline of March 31, 2025.

Financially, the Government of India allocated a budget of ₹48,000 crore for the Smart Cities Mission, aimed at transforming urban areas through various developmental projects. To date, ₹46,585 crore (97% of the allocated budget) has been released to the cities. Of the funds released, 93% have been utilized, reflecting significant progress in project implementation. The ministry also noted that full central government financial support has been provided to 74 of the 100 cities under the mission.

Innovative Approaches and Impact

Since its inception in June 2015, the Smart Cities Mission has introduced several innovative concepts aimed at improving urban governance and infrastructure. These innovations include competition among cities for selection, stakeholder-driven project selection, the formation of smart city special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for implementation, the deployment of technology and digital solutions for urban governance, and third-party impact evaluations by premier academic and professional institutes.

The mission has aimed to address various aspects of urban living, from infrastructure to digital governance, ensuring that cities are better equipped to handle the needs of their residents. The extension is seen as a critical step in ensuring that the mission’s objectives are fully realized.

The extension of the Smart Cities Mission deadline to March 2025 reflects the government's commitment to ensuring the completion of crucial urban projects. By addressing on-ground challenges and supporting advanced-stage initiatives, this move aims to enhance urban infrastructure and improve residents' quality of life. The mission continues to set a benchmark for future urban development in India.

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