Cities in Maharashtra under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) are nearing the end of implementation, with over 94 per cent of sanctioned projects completed. However, projects worth more than Rs 15.55 billion remain unfinished, pointing to uneven progress across cities and sectors.

According to official data, Maharashtra’s eight smart cities were allotted 347 projects with a total outlay of Rs 169.8 billion. Of these, 328 projects valued at Rs 154.25 billion have been completed, while 19 projects involving Rs 15.55 billion are still under execution.

Launched in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Smart Cities Mission aimed to develop 100 cities across India. Maharashtra cities included in the programme were Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Solapur and Thane. With the mission concluding on March 31, 2025, there is no budgetary allocation under SCM for the current financial year.

Uneven City-Wise Progress

Pune and Solapur have emerged as full achievers. Pune completed all 55 of its projects, amounting to Rs 33.33 billion, while Solapur finished 49 projects worth Rs 15.87 billion, with no pending works.

Nashik, one of the largest beneficiaries, completed 51 of its 53 projects, accounting for Rs 30.12 billion out of a total allocation of Rs 31.97 billion. Two projects worth Rs 1.85 billion remain under execution.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar completed 45 of 47 projects, though pending works still account for Rs 1.45 billion. Thane has two unfinished projects valued at Rs 3.10 billion, while Nagpur has the highest number of pending projects—nine—together worth Rs 2.60 billion.

Kalyan-Dombivli presents a different challenge. While only three projects are pending, their combined value stands at Rs 5.23 billion, making it one of the costliest unfinished portfolios in the State. Pimpri-Chinchwad has a single pending project valued at Rs 1.32 billion.

Sectoral Trends

Sector-wise analysis shows strong completion in social and utility-focused infrastructure. Smart energy, social infrastructure and environment projects have achieved 100 per cent completion, together accounting for over Rs 31.67 billion. Water, sanitation and hygiene projects recorded around 95 per cent completion, while vibrant public spaces and smart governance crossed 97 per cent.

The largest lag is in smart mobility, the biggest sector by value. Although projects worth Rs 55.05 billion have been completed, full closure remains elusive due to delays in road redesign, intelligent transport systems and last-mile connectivity works.

Officials noted that much of the spending under the mission has gone towards addressing basic infrastructure gaps rather than building advanced “smart” urban systems, highlighting the continuing challenge of meeting essential civic needs even under flagship urban programmes.