Uttar Pradesh Smart City Initiative Achieves Near-Total Project Completion
In a major urban development achievement for Uttar Pradesh, the state has successfully commissioned 99% of projects under the national Smart City scheme. According to the latest review conducted by the urban development department, which was chasing a March 15 deadline, 677 out of the total 682 sanctioned projects have been completed. These projects were specifically designed to enhance the ease of living for urban residents across the state.
Remaining Projects on Fast Track for Inauguration
Senior officials have confirmed that out of the five remaining projects, three are scheduled to be inaugurated within the coming week. The remaining two projects are also expected to become fully operational by March 14, ensuring all initiatives under the scheme meet their final deadlines. This accelerated timeline demonstrates the state's commitment to fulfilling its urban infrastructure promises.
Comprehensive Coverage Across Ten Municipal Cities
The Smart City scheme, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in June 2015, initially focused on ten cities governed by municipal corporations in Uttar Pradesh. The selected cities included:
- Agra
- Aligarh
- Bareilly
- Jhansi
- Kanpur
- Lucknow
- Moradabad
- Prayagraj
- Saharanpur
- Varanasi
Officials have indicated that once these ten cities officially achieve the 'smart city' designation, the Central government may provide additional funds to upgrade other urban centers across Uttar Pradesh, potentially expanding the program's benefits statewide.
Overcoming Initial Challenges and Audit Findings
The completion of these milestones took longer than originally anticipated due to significant irregularities detected during the first three years of the scheme's execution. Experts from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) identified specific cases of concern through their detailed audit report while reviewing the ongoing projects. These findings were formally released during the 2022-23 financial year for corrective action.
Despite these early challenges, an officer deputed in the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies confirmed that by March 15, all allocated funds for the projects were utilized according to the mandated guidelines, ensuring financial accountability alongside project completion.
Extended Deadlines and State-Led Initiatives
It is important to note that, at the state's request, the Central government extended the deadline for the Smart City scheme three times in previous years. Following the last deadline extension to March 31 of the previous year, no additional funds were disbursed by the center for this specific scheme.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh state government has independently launched the 'UP State Smart City Mission' in 2019-2020. This parallel initiative aims to upgrade the remaining seven cities governed by municipal corporations that were not included in the original central scheme, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to urban modernization across the state.
The successful near-completion of the Smart City projects represents a significant step forward in Uttar Pradesh's urban development strategy, potentially improving infrastructure, services, and quality of life for millions of urban residents while setting a precedent for future urban planning initiatives.
