Many believe that roadblocks ahead for India’s Smart Cities plan, such as red-tape and funding, could jeopardise the potential achievement of Indian Smart City Mission.

Most analysts say that there are many hurdles that administrators trying to implement Smart City Mission will face. There are multiple agencies and coordinating them to implement projects would prove to be very difficult.

India is facing an infrastructure crisis, with the country’s urban population estimated to grow from 31 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030 as people move to cities in search of better lives and jobs. Three of the 20 cities are in the World Health Organisation’s list of top 20 most polluted cities in the world.

The government hopes that the successful creation of Smart Cities will inspire other cities to pursue such upgrading on their own.

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said “the implementation of the plans will demonstrate how integrated planning… and smart technologies can deliver a better quality of life.”

But the mindset of politicians and bureaucrats has to change to push the Smart City projects. The government has to develop seamless coordination mechanism to ensure that Smart Cities are implemented effectively.