"100 Smart Cities Mission" was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 25, 2015.

A total of ₹98,000 crore (US$15 billion) has been approved by the Indian Cabinet for development of 100 smart cities and rejuvenation of 500 others.

₹48,000 crore (US$7.5 billion) for the Smart Cities mission and a total funding of ₹50,000 crore (US$7.8 billion) for the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) has been approved by the Cabinet.

However In the 2014 Union budget of India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allocated ₹7,016 crore (US$1.1 billion) for the 150 smart cities.

Two years after launch of the ambitious Smart Cities project and the Modi led BJP government does not have much to showcase yet.

Under the Smart Cities project, of the 2,895 projects worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore, only 181 projects (6.3 per cent) valued at Rs 6,413 crore are under implementation. Of the 4,672 projects launched under AMRUT, contracts have been awarded for only 1,075 or 23 per cent till date, reveal data accessed...