The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry on Thursday said that so far, over 600 kilometers of cycle tracks have been established in 100 smart cities, and over 76,000 CCTV surveillance cameras have been installed. As part of the Smart Cities Mission, 6,855 “smart classrooms” and 40 digital libraries have been developed, along with the installation of over 50 lakh solar and LED streetlights. Additionally, 89,000 kilometers of underground electricity cabling have been completed.
What more did the ministry say?
As per the ministry, special purpose vehicles in these 100 cities are developing about 8,000 multi-sectoral projects valued at over Rs 1.7 lakh crore. As of January 15, 6,650 projects worth Rs 1.32 lakh crore have been successfully completed. The release of this data comes as the mission’s deadline is set for June of this year.
Mission Director Kunal Kumar, while speaking at Smart Cities India Expo, said that the integration of intelligent traffic management systems with surveillance systems, has contributed to enhanced road safety. The installation of over 76,000 CCTV surveillance cameras in smart cities is helping in crime monitoring, he added. As part of urban mobility enhancement, around 1,300 smart mobility projects have been completed, with 383 projects nearing completion.
Investment in projects
As per the ministry, the total investment in these smart mobility projects exceeds Rs 40,000 crore. It informed that over 2,500 kilometres of smart roads having universal accessibility, utility ducts and proper signages have been developed so far. Additionally, over 7,500 new buses, including over 2,000 electric buses, have been procured, and 600 kilometers of cycle tracks have been established in 100 smart cities.
Intelligent transport management systems are being implemented and monitored through Integrated Command and Control Centres, leading to improvements in traffic operations, the enforcement of traffic violations, and enhanced journey times.
The ministry revealed that 674 economic infrastructure projects have been completed, with an additional 263 under implementation, representing a total investment exceeding Rs 13,800 crore. This move is expected to position smart cities as growth hubs, attracting investments and generating jobs through initiatives like start-up incubation centers and market redevelopment projects.
E-health centres, clinics developed
A total of 308 e-health centers and clinics have been established, along with the installation of 255 health ATMs in smart cities. The information provided by the ministry highlights the successful implementation of smart infrastructure initiatives, encompassing 600 smart energy projects and 1,250 water and sanitation projects.
In the pursuit of creating vibrant public spaces, the 100 smart cities are seeing the development of 1,377 projects, incorporating the enhancement of 180 waterfront projects in 47 cities. Additionally, 170 projects have been successfully executed, emphasising cultural heritage, and redevelopment efforts have transformed over 200 markets in 68 cities.
Furthermore, 155 environmental sensors have been installed and over 5,300 personnel and volunteers have been trained for disaster response.
Recognising the significance of collaborations with the private sector, 186 public-private-partnership projects have been completed, and another 20 projects are currently in progress, with a combined investment of approximately Rs 11,000 crore.
(With PTI inputs)