Positive reviews from Industry experts, on the PM’s smart cities mission

Smart Cities Mission

Last week, PM Narendra Modi, has unveiled the top three mega flagship urban schemes under smart cities mission with a aim to develop these cities with much higher growth rate than ever. While launching AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and Smart Cities Mission, and Housing for All, he state that Urbanization should be viewed as the opportunity and urban centers should be viewed as growth engines.

However; experts from industry also welcome the decision and appreciate the PM in positive way. Ratan, a Leader from Government and Public Sector, PW India stated that Launch of Smart City Mission comes with a time where government, private and public sector is looking for the balanced growth with the combination of higher standards of living and creating the multiple resources in much efficient way. These ambitious projects need adequate capacity as well as innovative implementation solution in all over the cities at administration level. It could be the more positive step towards the construction of inclusive and sustainable inclusive urbanization story for India.

Details about Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT:

The AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission will draw Rs 50,000 crores and Rs 48,000 crores respectively as central grants for next three to five years. However; “Housing for all by 2022” mission will need the government expenditure of about Rs 3 lakh crores for the period of 5 to 7 years and it aimed to construct more than 2 crore affordable houses in urban region only for slum dwellers and these people who are falling under EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) and LIG (Lower income Groups). Under these housing schemes the interest subsidy will be 6.5 percent on the housing loan for the period of 15 years and it will be available for EWS and LIGs (it will provide them benefit of 2.3 lakhs). For AMRUT, more than 500 cities which have a population of 1 lakh or more will come under the project. However; on the major effect of these plans, Praveen Tyagi, CMD of VVIP states stated that the AMRUT plan will help in the urbanization of 500 cities whereas; the Smart Cities Mission will enhance the quality of life in particular cities and towns by developing the superior infrastructure for smart living through different features such as; green and much sustainable environment, less populated areas, better services at disposal and a clean and more. And Housing for all by 2022 scheme will act as the perfect catalyst as it is able to enhance the purchasing power of LIG and EWS by reducing the burden of loan interest rates.

Recently, PM emphasized on the new towns and cities which needs to witness the integrated infrastructural development. However; Anil Chaudhry, who is Country president & MD of Schneider Electric India stated that to support the growing population of our country and provide housing for all in different cities and town we need to have sustainable projects. In this aspect we need to have water management, transport facility, building management and energy efficiency for smart living and these factors will play an important role in the Government’s vision. Under  AMRUT scheme, 500 cities will get development and under Smart Cities Mission 100 cities will get development in next five years, however;  under the Housing for All scheme there will be construction of more than 2 crore houses in urban region in next seven years.

For infrastructure development, smart cities will get selected through competitions while 500 cities will be identified under AMRUT scheme.