Why Smart City mission has failed? India's Urbanisation Problem | Policy Watch by Anil Swarup

Summary

This video script discusses the concept of Smart Cities in India, comparing it with the successful Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). It highlights the challenges faced in the implementation of the Smart Cities program, including financial constraints, lack of political push, and issues with coordination across departments. The script explores the key objectives of the Smart Cities initiative, such as improving infrastructure, transportation, and public services through technology. Despite the promising goals, the script notes that many of the targets have not been met, making the Smart Cities program less successful compared to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Takeaways

• 😀 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was more successful than the Smart City Mission due to strong political backing, better financial management, and clear objectives.
• 😀 Smart City Mission aimed to improve urban life through technology, focusing on areas like governance, mobility, housing, water, electricity, and public services.
• 😀 The primary goal of the Smart City Mission was to make urban living more convenient and sustainable using technology, but it faced significant implementation challenges.
• 😀 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan succeeded because of strong political leadership and widespread public support, leading to its objectives being met on time.
• 😀 Financial viability was a key issue for the Smart City Mission, as many state governments failed to contribute their share of funding, and public-private partnerships did not deliver as expected.
• 😀 Smart City Mission suffered from poor administrative coordination between various departments, which slowed down execution and delivery of services.
• 😀 Unlike Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Smart City Mission did not have the same level of political drive, which impacted its overall progress and outcomes.
• 😀 Several cities, such as Indore and Jamshedpur, successfully implemented technology-based solutions, but the lack of uniformity in other cities hampered the mission's overall success.
• 😀 Despite technological feasibility, the Smart City Mission faced challenges in using technology effectively in many cities, leading to inconsistent results.
• 😀 While Swachh Bharat Abhiyan focused on a single objective (cleanliness), the Smart City Mission had multiple objectives, making it more difficult to manage and execute.
• 😀 Coordination and alignment between various levels of government, from local to national, were critical for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan's success, but this was lacking in the Smart City Mission.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the Smart City mission discussed in the transcript?

The Smart City mission focuses on using technology to improve urban living conditions by addressing issues such as governance, infrastructure, traffic management, housing, health services, water supply, and electricity, aiming to make cities more efficient and livable.

Why was the Smart City mission launched by the Indian government?

The mission was launched to address the growing population in urban areas and improve the living standards by incorporating technology to solve common problems such as traffic, housing, sanitation, and essential services.

What are some of the core components of a Smart City as outlined in the transcript?

The core components of a Smart City include smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment, smart living, smart people, and technological integration to improve city management and citizen services.

How does the Smart City mission compare to the Swachh Bharat mission in terms of success?

While the Swachh Bharat mission was largely successful due to strong political drive, clear objectives, and effective coordination, the Smart City mission has faced challenges in implementation, particularly due to funding issues, lack of political push, and insufficient inter-departmental coordination.

What were the primary challenges faced by the Smart City mission according to the transcript?

The Smart City mission faced challenges such as inadequate financial resources, insufficient public-private partnerships, poor coordination between government departments, and a lack of strong political leadership compared to the Swachh Bharat mission.

Which cities were highlighted as successful examples of Smart City initiatives?

Indore and Jamshedpur were cited as successful examples where technology was effectively utilized, particularly in waste management, and their implementation can serve as models for other cities.

How did financial issues impact the Smart City mission's implementation?

The financial issues included a lack of adequate funding from both the central and state governments, as well as insufficient private sector investment. These financial constraints hindered the progress of many planned Smart City projects.

What role does inter-departmental coordination play in the success of Smart Cities?

Inter-departmental coordination is crucial for the success of the Smart City mission. Without effective collaboration between various government departments, such as urban planning, police, and health services, the mission cannot be successfully executed.

What was the political support like for the Smart City mission compared to the Swachh Bharat mission?

The political support for the Swachh Bharat mission was more robust, with active involvement from the Prime Minister and other top leaders. In contrast, the Smart City mission lacked the same level of political drive, which affected its success.

What is the future outlook for the Smart City mission based on the transcript?

The future of the Smart City mission depends on resolving financial and logistical challenges, ensuring stronger political backing, and improving coordination between various government departments. Some cities have shown success, so there is hope that other cities can follow suit.