CAG Report No. 11 of 2025 — Implementation of Smart City Mission, Government of Karnataka

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Chapter I
1.1 About the Scheme
Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was launched by Government of India on 25 June
2015 in order to meet the changing needs of the cities and achieve
comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic
infrastructure of the cities. As per Census 2011, cities house 63 per cent of the
population. The mission was to cover 100 cities and its duration was five years
(2015-16 to 2019- 20) which has been extended up to March 2025.
1.1.1 Objectives of SCM
The main objective of the Mission was to promote cities that provide core
infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of
life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions’. Core
infrastructure elements in a Smart City would include adequate water supply,
assured electricity supply, sanitation including solid waste management,
efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable housing especially for
the poor, robust IT connectivity and digitalization, good governance, especially
e-Governance and citizen participation, sustainable environment, health,
education, safety and security of citizens particularly women, children and the
elderly.
The mission aimed to achieve its objectives by focusing on compact areas and
creating a replicable model which will act like a lighthouse to other aspiring
cities. Strategic components of the mission included components of Area-Based
Development (ABD) plus a Pan-city initiative involving application of Smart
Solutions covering larger parts of the city. The models of ABD and Pan-city
are detailed below:
(i) Retrofitting: This included introduction of planning in an existing built-
up area of more than 500 acres to achieve Smart City objectives, along with
other objectives, to make the existing area more efficient and liveable. In
retrofitting, area would be identified by the city in consultation with citizens.
(ii) Redevelopment: This included replacement of the existing built-up
environment and co-creation of a new layout with enhanced infrastructure using
mixed land use and increased density. Redevelopment envisaged an area of
more than 50 acres, identified by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in consultation
with citizens.
(iii) Greenfield: This included introduction of most of the Smart Solutions
in a previously vacant area (more than 250 acres) using innovative planning,
INTRODUCTION