SCM ph-2 should focus on Tier-2 cities: Parliamentary Committee

NEW DELHI: A report presented in the Lok Sabha by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) recommended that the government should initiate the second phase of the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) with a focus on Tier-2 cities located between 50 and 100 kilometers from capitals, as well as ‘tourist cities.’

The committee, led by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Member of Parliament, suggested that, considering the digital infrastructure development in 100 cities under the mission, it is crucial to establish a robust system to safeguard digital platforms from cyber-attacks and ensure the adequate protection of sensitive public and private data.

The report also recommended the MoHUA to conduct third-party assessments of various projects carried out under the Smart Cities Mission.

The panel stated, “The committee is of the opinion that the experience and expertise gained by the SPVs in urban development initiatives must be leveraged and possibility should be explored for utilising their expertise in other projects, such as AMRUT, DAYNULM etc undertaken for the growth and development of cities and sub-urban areas/satellite towns/growth centres around the city or elsewhere.”

In its report, the panel acknowledged the positive steps taken under the SCM for digital infrastructure, including Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCCs), Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), Automatic Number Plate Recognition System (ANPR), digital assets for solid waste and wastewater management, water distribution management, CCTV surveillance systems, and smart education and health systems.