The 98 cities which the government approved for it’s smart city plan for the country in August have to now submit their plans to the Ministry of Urban Development by 15 December. The government will then pick the first batch of mission cities for financing this year. Out of 100, these are its weightage parameters: - 30 for implementation framework (like feasibility and cost effectiveness), - 20 for result orientation, - 16 for citizen consultation and identifying goals, - 10 for smartness of solutions, - 10 for adoption of SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) - and 5 each for city vision and goals, quality of city profiling (including identification of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), potential for improvement of city) and 4% for processes followed. Smart city plans will give 30% weightage to city level criteria, 50% for area based development and 15% for pan city solutions, which was increased from 10% following suggestions from states and urban local bodies, and 1% for citizen engagement. Read more about smart city features here. Under implementation framework, the government includes feasibility and cost effectiveness of area based development and pan city solutions, which further include a clear financing plan with resource requirements, bankable projects, financial innovation, special purpose vehicles and roles of various institutions. City level criteria include measures taken in the last 3 years to enhance livability, administrative efficiency, quality of city vision, strategic plan and potential for improvement. Area development and pan city proposals’ result orientation has adoption of…
