The Role and Future Prospects of Smart Cities in India

A smart city represents an urban development concept that seeks to cohesively incorporate various information and communication technologies and Internet solutions securely to address a city's requirements.  The objective of constructing a smart city is to enhance the quality of life by leveraging urban data and technology to optimize service efficiency and address inhabitants' requirements. By 2050, around 70 percent of India's population will reside in urban areas. In light of escalating urbanization and the strain on rural land, the government has acknowledged the necessity for cities capable of addressing the issues of urban living while also attracting investment. In 2011, there were 495 cities with populations above 100,000. There existed 4,041 statutory towns and 3,894 census towns. A significant number of migrants currently inhabit in cities and offer their labour in exchange for remuneration. Their services are essential for the efficient operation of cities. Typically, they either commute to or reside in the cities. The objective of a smart city is ambitious, focusing on an eco-friendly environment and sustainable development through intelligent services. The concern now is whether smart technology will displace low-skilled workers and create unemployment. Secondly, what will happen to the displacement of these labourers as smart buildings replace ghettos?  Nonetheless, the basic infrastructure model of smart cities advocates for affordable housing for the impoverished; nonetheless, the question arises: if governments fail to provide housing for the poor under conventional infrastructure, is the realization of a smart city truly feasible? This work rigorously poses additional questions and endeavours to address them.