From Policy to Practice: A Critical Assessment of Kanpur's Smart City Mission

DOI- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21099008

Abstract

Urban transformation is in essence a process that is dynamic in nature which transforms cities keeping in view with changing opportunities and challenges. In 2015, Indian government started India's smart city mission which aims at developing 100 cities as smart cities which are citizen centric and technologically advanced cities. The present research work is a critical evaluation of the development of the Kanpur city within the framework of the smart city mission, in terms of governance, and the use of policy and infrastructural improvement. The present research is the way of measuring the population opinion on the smart city mission initiatives in the city of Kanpur using both secondary and primary data which includes survey of 100 individuals who are living in the city of Kanpur. According to the findings of the survey, the responses are mixed and the residents note improvements in the areas that comprise infrastructure, employment and water supply. However, some of the concerns still remain related to public safety, healthcare, financial transparency and waste management. The efficaciousness of the existing policies and their adequacy is questioned by sizable number of the respondents. The necessity to involve the communities, transparent governance and increased financial planning has also been demonstrated in this research study. Kanpur city's experience provides not only the valuable insights but also important lessons for the other cities looking at smart city transformation, including the need for a sustainable, integrated and inclusive approach to the urban development.

Keywords: Kanpur, Smart City, Urban Transformation, Sustainable Development, Urban Planning.