Special Purpose Vehicles Were Key to Smart Cities—Now They Have a New Mission

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The Urban Affairs Ministry has advised states to keep Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) from the Smart Cities Mission active, even though the program officially ended in March. The goal is to ensure ongoing urban development without disruption.

What’s Changing?

SPVs Won’t Shut Down Yet – Instead of dissolving them, states can use SPVs for technology support, project execution, research, and investment planning.
More Power for Command Centers – The Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), which were originally designed for smart city management, will now take on bigger roles in data analytics and urban monitoring.
Finding Ways to Stay Funded – The government suggests SPVs charge consulting fees for services to keep themselves financially viable.
Urban Expansion Plans – Even though Smart Cities Mission wrapped up, SPVs could still play a role in cybersecurity, infrastructure planning, and digital services.

The government has invested heavily in urban transformation, and with 93% of planned projects completed, this advisory ensures that the progress doesn’t stall. Now, states will have to decide whether to integrate SPVs into their longterm city plans.

Sources: Hindustan Times, The Print, MSN News