Smart City Projects Near Completion in 10 Uttar Pradesh Cities: 99% of 682 Sanctioned Projects Commissioned

by- Grihik
Mar 3, 2026

The state has achieved a significant milestone with 677 out of 682 projects completed, utilizing all allocated funds despite initial irregularities. The remaining five projects are expected to be operational by March 14, 2026, paving the way for potential central government funding for further city upgrades.

Lucknow, March 3, 2026: In a positive development for the state, 99% of the projects scheduled under the Smart City scheme have been commissioned. Chasing a deadline of March 15, the latest review by the urban development department found that out of the total 682 projects sanctioned to improve ease of living for urban residents, 677 were completed .

Cities Covered

Ten cities governed by municipal corporations were taken up under the scheme, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in June 2015. These include Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Prayagraj, Saharanpur, and Varanasi .

Remaining Projects

Out of the remaining five projects, three could be inaugurated within a week, while the remaining ones would also be made operational by March 14, said senior officials .

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Completion of the milestones stipulated under the project took longer than usual as large-scale irregularities were detected in the execution of the scheme during the first three years. Experts from the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed out specific cases through their audit report while reviewing the projects, with findings released in the 2022-23 financial year for action .

However, by March 15, the money allocated for the projects was utilized as per the mandate, said an officer deputed in the directorate of urban local bodies .

Future Prospects

Officials said that once the 10 cities achieve the 'smart city' tag, the Central government could provide funds to upgrade other cities in Uttar Pradesh .

State-Level Initiative

Meanwhile, the state government is also upgrading the remaining seven cities governed by municipal corporations under the 'UP State Smart City Mission' that was introduced in 2019-2020 .

It should be noted that at the request of the state, the Central government extended the deadline of the Smart City scheme three times in the past. After March 31 last year, the last deadline assigned to the state, no more funds were disbursed for the scheme by the Centre .