Smart Cities Mission: Himalayan Cities Struggle Amidst Lofty Promises

SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: The Smart Cities Mission, launched with much fanfare to enhance the quality of life in 100 selected cities across India, aimed to bring efficient services, robust infrastructure, and a sustainable environment.

The citizens still struggle for smart public transport, parking,  regular quality of water supply, smart services in hospitals government offices and a hassle-free movement in the public places. 

The recent series of disasters  have laid bare the significant shortcomings of this ambitious initiative, particularly in the Himalayan cities of Shimla, Dharamshala, and Dehradun.

The monsoon season exposed the vulnerabilities of these so-called "smart cities," where poor urban planning and infrastructure failures led to severe disruptions bringing life to a dangerous halt. 

In Shimla, a city that has long been racing up  with rapid urbanization, congestion, traffic mess  landslides, and environmental degradation, the situation was particularly grim.

Despite being part of the Smart Cities Mission, Shimla's drainage systems buckled under the pressure of heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding on the roads and in  the hills.

This not only caused traffic chaos but also heightened the risk of landslides, endangering lives and property.

The recent landslides in Shimla in 2023, which resulted in the tragic loss of life and the destruction of homes, and wiping out of over 600 trees,  have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the Smart Cities Mission in addressing the city's most pressing issues.

The cracks on the road, flowing of debris remain as  common as before.

In Dharamshala, another hill  city under the mission, the story is much the same. Poor drainage and waste management have turned this picturesque city into a nightmare during the monsoons.

Roads are often blocked by landslides, and debris is left piled on roadsides, a stark reminder that the promises of the Smart Cities Mission remain unfulfilled.

The situation has been complicated by the dumping of construction debris and waste, which not only clogs drains but also contributes to the deterioration of already fragile slopes.

Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand and a key city under the mission, is also facing the same challenges.

Frequent traffic jams, clogged drains, and the unchecked dumping of waste, vanishing greenery, ramshackle public transport have become the norm rather than the exception.

Despite the city's smart city status, residents continue to face with the same old problems that have plagued the city for years.

The mission, which was supposed to bring about transformative changes, has so far delivered little more than superficial upgrades.

According to the central governmentdata, huge funds have been allocated to these smart cities.

Shimla received over ₹2,000 crore, Dharamshala ₹1,700 crore, and Dehradun ₹1,800 crore.

Yet, the allocation of these funds has not translated into meaningful improvements. Instead, the focus seems to have been on aesthetic upgrades, like beautification projects and smart lighting, while fundamental issues like drainage, traffic management, and waste disposal have been neglected.

Citizens of these cities are growing increasingly frustrated. The demand for a hassle-free life in smart cities is growing louder. Residents of Shimla, Dharamshala, and Dehradun are not asking for high-tech solutions or flashy projects;

They simply want basic infrastructure that works. They want roads that don’t crack under pressure, drains that don’t clog at the first sign of rain, and a city environment that is safe from landslides and flooding.

The Smart Cities Mission, in its current form, risks being more of a temporary upgrade rather than the transformative initiative it was meant to be. Without addressing these fundamental issues, the mission will continue to fall short of its lofty goals.

The residents of these Himalayan cities deserve better, and it’s time the mission refocused on delivering the basic necessities that ensure a truly "smart" cities.