Table of Contents
- What is the Smart City Program?
- Top 10 Smart cities in India
- Key Elements of Smart cities in India
- How is a Smart City Selected?
- Summing Up
India has shown a lot of progress in different fields over the last few years in upgrading technology to build smart cities. Things have changed though. By 2025 smart cities in India will focus on more than just technology and artificial intelligence. They will aim to include eco-friendly living, smarter healthcare, better energy use, and ensuring safety for everyone living there.
Currently, India has 100 smart cities offering various services, including parking, healthcare, and more. However, in this article, we will explore the top 10 smart cities in India that hold thriving future prospects.
What is the Smart City Program?
The smart city mission is a flagship program by the Government of India to promote sustainable and inclusive urban development through technology and innovation. The main aim of this program is to provide residents of the particular city with the best amenities. It makes good use of the land and benefits a large and ever-increasing population.
Services that get improved under the smart city program include supplies, garbage collection, and many other social services. In fact, technology is used to improve mobility, environmental management, and law and order. The cities that are listed under India’s smart city initiative strive for sustainable living.
Top 10 Smart cities in India
1. Hyderabad, Telangana
Hyderabad is among the leading smart cities in India. The city works to adopt creative ideas that boost efficiency using eco-friendly and unified systems. Efforts like better waste handling, smarter transport options, and green city goals aim to make life more convenient and save time for people living here. Hyderabad’s smart cities mission focuses on upgrading public infrastructure and raising the standard of living for its citizens.
2. Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Bhubaneshwar’s strong infrastructure and many recreational spots here, make it a hub for smart services. Significant initiatives outlined in the Bhubaneswar Smart City Proposal encompass Smart Janpath, the BMC-ICOMC Tower, Smart Roads, and the Integrated Public Service Center. Over time, the city has worked on these developments. These efforts aim not just to improve how the city looks but also to make life better for residents. A key focus is to make these advancements friendly and sustainable. The smart cities Mission also involves Bhubaneswar collaborating with companies both within India and from abroad.
3. Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, a city located in Uttar Pradesh, initiated programs including Swacch Lucknow, Jeevant Lucknow, Sugam Lucknow, and Samrudh Lucknow as part of the Smart Cities Mission. These programs aim to make life better for the people living there and to promote eco-friendly lifestyles. The focus of these efforts is to make the city more comfortable and cleaner while improving transportation and boosting economic growth. To support the smart Lucknow vision, the government has worked on projects like managing solid waste, setting up smart -grid systems, reusing wastewater, and more.
4. Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Indore plans to bring in tech-based changes and use technology to improve city infrastructure to work toward building an AI-powered smart city. As part of the smart cities mission, the city focuses on setting up healthcare facilities, launching IT projects, introducing IoT-based programs like smart classrooms managing waste, improving public transport, and a variety of other urban enhancements.
5. Surat, Gujarat
Surat focuses on area-based growth while aiming to upgrade its tech services and infrastructure. The city has carried out several projects under PAN city initiatives to upgrade public services, make life better for residents, and boost communication using smart city solutions powered by IoT. In its proposal for a smart city, Surat aims to enhance transportation and communication through ICT-based connectivity solutions. Efforts like the city-wide Surat IT-MAC and the Common City Payment System play a role in moving the city forward in development.
6. Pune, Maharashtra
Pune ranks among India’s leading smart cities and holds a reputation for its cultural evolution and historical significance. The Pune smart city Proposal focuses on enhancing infrastructure, creating eco-friendly solutions, and building strong smart city systems. The plan aims to make urban facilities sustainable, cost-effective, and ready for future needs. It also emphasizes creating more housing options at lower costs.
7. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Coimbatore stands out as one of the leading smart cities in India. The city provides advanced services such as mixed land use and smooth traffic systems. Growth in sectors like IT and real estate has opened more chances to grow in Coimbatore smart city. It has energy-saving buildings, efficient traffic control, and top-notch CCTV monitoring. These features improve how the city works as a whole.
8. Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ahmedabad’s smart city proposal highlights initiatives such as the Intelligent Transit Management System, city surveillance measures, and integrated command and control centers. The city holds one of India’s strongest economic foundations, with its growing IT and IoT industries broadening opportunities for urban growth. Planners have outlined several strategies to improve Ahmedabad’s infrastructure and embrace advanced technology, while also ensuring its cultural traditions are protected and promoted.
9. Kochi, Kerala
The smart city development plan in Kochi takes inspiration from an acclaimed model. The city boasts strong road networks and a well-maintained environment. A detailed plan outlines the creation of smart spaces with offices, homes, shops, hostels, restaurants, and schools. Kochi’s smart city project seeks to offer a sustainable way of living and improve health conditions for everyone there.
10. Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur stands out as a one of the leading smart cities in India, recognized for its rich culture and growing tourism. The smart cities mission aims to improve its heritage, tourism, city infrastructure, and overall living conditions. The vision prioritizes efforts to strengthen the city’s economy while improving its physical, educational, and social dimensions. Initiatives like the Public Bicycle Sharing system and the Tulip Internship have been put into action. These programs support healthier habits, help reduce pollution and overcrowding, enhance public well-being, and provide students with better education and skill opportunities.
Key Elements of Smart cities in India
India’s leading smart cities need to meet certain standards. They should have
- Great Internet Connection
- Reliable Infrastructure
- Smooth Transportation
- Strong Law and Order
A smart city requires both physical and social elements in its setup. It needs to link devices, apps, and transit systems. On top of that, smart cities in India must focus on keeping data safe and ensuring cyber systems work well. This leads to better services and a stronger economy.
How is a Smart City Selected?
Turning a city into a smart city is a big task filled with all sorts of challenges. To make this easier, the Indian government came up with a system to organize and pick smart cities.
Take a look at how they choose smart cities in India step by step:
- The first thing they do is send letters to states asking them to name cities for smart city consideration. This included a questionnaire full of specific questions that states have to answer.
- They decide the final list of smart cities after reviewing the answers from states and UTs and scoring each city’s responses.
- Officials announce the potential smart cities in India after making the final selections.
- Every smart city gets an external agency and a consultant to help them understand different criteria to compete in the smart city contest.
Summing Up
India places smart cities at the core of its big urban growth plans. The goal is to turn these cities into hubs that use modern technology and focus on eco-friendly living. As India is rapidly growing, now is an amazing time to join in its progress.
Several smart cities are coming up in India, offering options to improve the quality of life. Putting money into real estate in these areas could bring solid returns. These cities are being built to be greener, safer, and more convenient. Owning property there gives you an investment while letting your family enjoy a much better living environment.
