Smart City Plans to be evaluated based on credibility, do-ability and citizen engagement

Smart City Plans to be submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development by the 98 identified mission cities for evaluation in the second stage of ‘City Challenge Competition’ will be assessed for their credibility and do-ability. The Ministry has firmed up the evaluation criteria seeking to enable formulation of workable city level Smart City Plans as suggested by the Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venakaiah Naidu. States and Urban Local Bodies have been adequately consulted in this regard. 

The Mission cities are currently engaged in preparation of Smart City Plans to be submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development by the 15th of next month for evaluation so as to pick up the first batch of mission cities for financing this year. 98 cities were earlier selected based on intra-state competition in the first stage of City Challenge Competition based on a set of criteria. 

The evaluation criteria for second stage of competition accords a weightage of 30 out of a total 100 marks for Implementation framework including feasibility and cost effectiveness, 20 for Result orientation, 16 for Citizen consultation for identifying goals and objectives, 10 for Smartness of solutions, 10 for adoption of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis for preparation of strategic plan and 5 each for City vision and goals and 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 be assessed based on City-level criteria (30% weightage), Area Based Development features(50%) and Pan-city Solutions(15%) encompassing above mentioned parameters. Based on the suggestions from States and Urban Local Bodies(ULBs), weightage for Pan-City Solutions has been increased from 10% to 15%. 

Citizen engagement has been made mandatory for identifying smart city objectives and evolving strategic plan under city-level criteria, deciding on area development features and identification of Pan-city Solutions with a total weightage of 16%. 

City-level criteria includes measures taken during the last three years to enhance livability and administrative efficiency of cities, quality of city vision and strategic plan, identification of gaps and KPIs and potential for improvement. 

Implementation framework including feasibility and cost effectiveness of Area Based Development and Pan-city Solutions of Smart City Proposals is given the highest weightage of 30% as it encompasses credibility of proposals. Under this, Mission cities should indicate realistic timelines and targets and sequencing of efforts and actions through PERT and CPM charts, a clear financing plan with details of resource requirements and their mobilization, development of bankable projects, innovative ways of financing including tapping of financial markets and land monetisation, life time costs, O&M costs and financial sustainability, details of Special Purpose Vehicle to be set up, convergence with other schemes, role of various institutions involved in implementation of plan etc. 

Result orientation of Area Development and Pan-city Proposals includes extent of adoption of 24 Smart City features, do-ability of proposals, outcomes, convergence of different schemes for resource mobilization, identification of risks and their management, impact of smart city proposals on governance, Spatial impact (enhanced density of living and mixed land use), Economic impact (new commercial spaces for economic activity), Social impact (improved public spaces enhancing social cohesion) and Environmental impact. 

Pan-city Solutions are mandatory component of Smart City Proposals aiming at benefitting entire city through application of Information & Communication Technologies resulting in improvement in governance and public service delivery. Mission city are required to clearly bring out the measurable impact of these solutions on governance and service delivery besides the time frame by when the benefits would be felt by the citizens. 

Smart City Mission focusses on area development through retrofitting, redevelopment and green field development or a combination of these with Pan-city Solutions as a mandatory component. 

Under retrofitting, an already built up area of a minimum of 500 acres identified will be taken up for addressing existing infrastructure deficits and promotion of smart city features. Under redevelopment, built up area of minimum 50 acres would be re-built with smart city features. Minimum area for green field development is 250 acres.