New Delhi – Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday strongly criticized the Modi government over the Smart Cities Mission India, calling it a “half-baked scheme” that fails to deliver comprehensive urban development. He alleged that the initiative, widely promoted as a transformative plan, has largely focused on publicity rather than real outcomes.
Gandhi Questions True Impact of Smart Cities Mission India
Addressing the shortcomings of the initiative, Gandhi said that no city can be truly “smart” without providing citizens basic amenities such as clean water, clean air, and safety. Highlighting the practical failures of the Smart Cities Mission India, he emphasized that despite grand announcements and significant expenditure, tangible improvements in urban infrastructure remain questionable.
Gandhi raised several critical questions in the Lok Sabha regarding the scheme, including the criteria for determining a smart city, the number of cities that have truly benefited, and measurable indicators of success under the Smart Cities Mission India.
Government Response and Fund Utilization
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, responded by stating that under the Smart Cities Mission India, 100 cities have claimed Central Financial Assistance of Rs 47,458 crore out of a total allocation of Rs 48,000 crore. Of this, Rs 46,326 crore has already been utilized, and 7,784 out of 8,064 projects (97%) have been completed.
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Sahu clarified that the objective of the Smart Cities Mission India was not to develop entire cities but to follow an area-based development approach, including retrofitting, redevelopment, greenfield development, and pan-city initiatives. This approach is intended to create replicable urban models that can be scaled nationally.
Evaluation and Future Outlook
According to a NITI Aayog report titled “Evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in Urban Transformation Sector and Skill Development” published in September 2025, the Smart Cities Mission India has demonstrated strong relevance to India’s urban needs and aligns with national development agendas and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Despite this, Gandhi urged citizens to assess the scheme’s real impact in their cities. “The nation was sold a half-baked scheme packaged as total transformation. Look around—open sewers, collapsing roads, and unsafe infrastructure continue to plague cities,” he said.