In 2015, in the wake of global enthusiasm for smart cities, the Indian government launched a large urban renewal and retrofitting programme to transform 100 cities into Smart Cities. The Smart Cities Mission embodies a “digital turn” in urban governance with a focus on the implementation of smart technological solutions in order to improve the quality of life for all. This project focuses on understanding the transformations in urban governance in India through a prism of the Smart Cities Mission. The project assesses the newly created Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in selected cities, the shifting tension between centralization and decentralization, and the increasing role of consultants in decision-making to understand the restructuring of urban governance structures under the Mission. Additionally, in-depth field-based research in selected cities will be conducted to analyze the more or less inclusive nature of the implemented projects, the differentiated manner in which the national programme travels in cities, as well as other sectoral issues.
The project is being implemented by the French National Institute of Sustainable Development (IRD) in collaboration with the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). It is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD)
