Allaying criticism that Smart City is an elitist approach to development, the popular participation in the evolution of Smart Cities shows that it has citizen’s full backing.

As many as 1.5 million suggestions have landed at Prime Minister’s website on this issue, said Additional Secretary (Smart Cities) of the Ministry of Urban Development Sameer Sharma.

He said every interaction with people is taken as an opportunity to learn. The Smart City mission has taken the views of every citizens whether politicians, bureaucrats and the common man.

Smart City concept, which emphasises better liveability, better transport and less pollution, involves people and administrators.

Building Smart Cities will be in the context of forecasts that by 2020 India’s urban population will be more than 40 per cent of the country’s population. This situation will throw up several challenges in terms of technology and planning.