Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is expanding technology-driven urban development through a combination of central and state-level smart city initiatives, covering 17 cities across the state.
Under the Centre’s Smart Cities Mission, launched on June 25, 2015, 10 Uttar Pradesh cities were selected for infrastructure development, improved public services and technology-based urban management. Separately, the state government included seven more municipal corporations under its State Smart City Scheme in 2019.
The initiatives focus on improving urban infrastructure, traffic management, sanitation, public spaces and the delivery of citizen-centric services.
According to information provided by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Parliament on February 2, 2026, all 10 cities selected under the central mission had operational Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs).
10 Uttar Pradesh Cities Under the Central Smart Cities Mission
The 10 cities selected under the Centre’s Smart Cities Mission are:
- Agra
- Aligarh
- Bareilly
- Jhansi
- Kanpur
- Lucknow
- Moradabad
- Prayagraj
- Saharanpur
- Varanasi
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The mission aims to improve the quality of urban life through better infrastructure, sustainable development and the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Its approach includes area-based development and the adoption of technology-based solutions to improve urban services.
What Infrastructure Is Being Developed Under the Mission?
The Smart Cities Mission covers several aspects of urban planning and public infrastructure.
Key focus areas include:
- Integrated urban planning: Promoting mixed land use and better-planned neighbourhoods.
- Housing: Encouraging inclusive housing facilities.
- Pedestrian-friendly spaces: Developing walkable localities and improving access to public spaces.
- Public transport: Encouraging different modes of transport and improving urban mobility.
- Open spaces: Developing and preserving parks and other public areas.
- Urban governance: Making civic administration more accessible and cost-effective.
- Smart infrastructure: Using technology to improve the delivery and monitoring of public services.
The mission also includes projects such as smart roads, multi-level parking facilities, open gyms and smart public toilets.
ICCCs and Technology-Based Urban Management
Technology is a major component of the Smart Cities Mission, particularly in the management of traffic, sanitation and other civic services.
Some of the key systems and solutions include:
- Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs): Facilities for monitoring and coordinating different urban services.
- Intelligent Traffic Management Systems: Technology-based traffic monitoring and management.
- Waste collection vehicle tracking: Systems to monitor the movement of garbage collection vehicles.
- Air quality monitoring: Technology to track pollution levels.
- Automated street lighting: Systems for managing public lighting.
- Smart roads and parking: Infrastructure aimed at improving urban mobility and parking management.
According to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ response in Parliament on February 2, 2026, ICCCs were operational in all 10 Uttar Pradesh cities covered under the central mission.
Special Purpose Vehicles Manage Central Smart City Projects
The 10 cities selected under the central mission have dedicated Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) established under the Companies Act, 2013.
These entities are responsible for planning, implementing, managing and monitoring Smart City projects in their respective cities.
The SPV-based structure is the implementation mechanism for the central mission in these cities.
Seven More Cities Under Uttar Pradesh’s State Smart City Scheme
The state government expanded the coverage of smart city development in 2019 by including seven additional municipal corporations under its own scheme.
These cities are:
- Ayodhya
- Firozabad
- Ghaziabad
- Gorakhpur
- Mathura
- Meerut
- Shahjahanpur
Unlike the 10 cities covered under the central mission, projects in these seven cities are implemented directly by their respective municipal corporations.
This brings the total number of cities covered under the two initiatives to 17.
Two Schemes, Different Implementation Structures
The central and state-level initiatives operate through different administrative arrangements.
Under the Centre’s Smart Cities Mission, dedicated SPVs are responsible for project planning, execution and monitoring. In the seven cities covered under the state scheme, the respective municipal corporations directly undertake project implementation.
Both initiatives focus on improving urban infrastructure, expanding technology-based civic services and strengthening the delivery of public amenities across Uttar Pradesh.
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