Tamil Nadu has urged the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to include 15 of its cities in the upcoming Smart City 2.0 initiative, expected to commence in 2025. The program, designed to enhance civic, mobility, and infrastructure development, aims to select 100 cities nationwide through a special purpose vehicle framework. Municipal Administration Minister K. N. Nehru and DMK Parliamentary Party Leader Kanimozhi formally presented the request to Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Under the initial Smart City program launched in 2015, Tamil Nadu was allotted 12 cities, including Chennai, the second-highest allocation after Uttar Pradesh. The state has utilised 98% of the Rs 180 billion allocated under the scheme, whose deadline has been extended to March 31, 2025.

D Karthikeyan, Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, stated that top-tier cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai would be prioritised, alongside rapidly developing urban areas. Cities will be assessed based on criteria such as renewable energy adoption, wastewater recycling, intelligent traffic systems, citizen safety, and smart digital applications. Additional metrics include Swachh Bharat compliance, grievance redressal systems, and improved revenue collection.

In Chennai, a significant portion of the Rs 10 billion allocated was spent in T. Nagar, yet only the pedestrian plaza has seen substantial usability. Urban planning experts have called for broader development, emphasising mobility solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit Systems and non-motorised transport.

Meanwhile, activists demand the release of a corruption report by the PWC David Committee, which has been withheld for two years. "Transparency is critical. Without addressing corruption, the new scheme risks becoming another money-minting exercise," said Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam. (ET)