The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has extended the implementation deadline for the Smart City Mission until June 2024, causing concerns among the residents of Dehradun. The second phase of the Smart City Mission, launched in 2017 with a budget of over Rs 1,400 crore, includes Dehradun as part of the scheme. However, residents have been complaining about the poor execution of the Smart City projects, leading to delays, disorganization, and inconvenience. While government representatives insist that projects are progressing smoothly, residents argue that simply installing a few smart features is not enough to create a smart city.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has extended the date of implementation of the Smart City Mission until June 2024, which has raised concerns among the citizens of Dehradun. The extension of the deadline has raised apprehensions among the residents of Dehradun, who have been complaining about the poor execution of the Smart City projects. The second phase of the Smart City Mission was launched in 2017 with a budget of over Rs 1,400 crore, and Dehradun has been included in the Smart City Scheme. The deadline has been extended to June 2024.
According to Yesh Veer Arya, a Canal Road resident, the extension of the Smart City project in Doon has caused a decrease in the lethargic attitude of the departments, leading to delays, disorganization, and inconvenience for the local population. Although the project is expected to be completed by June 2024, it is possible that the duration of the project may be extended beyond that date, further exacerbating the problems faced by the local population.
Residents stated that the extension of the project will now result in these issues persisting for an extended period of time. It is difficult to envisage a smart city when all roads have been excavated, dust and gravel are present, and traffic is poorly managed. Simply installing electronic screens or a few smart toilets is not enough to create a smart city; instead, it is necessary to provide infrastructure that meets the needs of citizens in terms of ease of movement and convenience, rather than half-measures that lead to further disruption.
By the way, representatives of Smart City assert that, currently, only a small number of projects are in progress while the remainder has been completed. Nevertheless, the Parade Ground and Paltan Bazaar are still undergoing work, although they are officially recorded as having been finished. According to officials at the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, they have yet to receive all the smart vehicles that were promised to them.
Government representatives insist that the construction initiatives are being carried out in a manner that will cause minimal inconvenience to the general public. According to Smart City spokesperson Prerna, all cities under the Smart City mission have been granted an extension, and they will be able to accomplish their objectives by the updated deadline without difficulty.
Dehradun was declared a part of the Smart City Mission project in Phase 4 and was one of the 100 smart cities selected by the government of India. The city was recognized as a smart city in 2017, and on June 25, 2019, the former chief minister of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat, officially inaugurated the smart city. The Smart City Mission is a bold and new initiative of the government of India that aims to improve the living quality of its citizens. However, the Dehradun Smart City project aims to provide core infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, smart solutions and applications, and quality of life for the citizens of Dehradun.
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