Smart City 2.0 In Limbo After SPV Scrap

Nagpur: The Nagpur Smart City 2.0 has slipped into uncertainty after the state govt scrapped the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), leaving the ambitious next phase without a clear execution framework even as the existing system struggles with large-scale failures.The wind-up of Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Ltd (NSSCDCL) has effectively derailed key planning components of Smart City 2.0. The proposed Detailed Project Report (DPR) and appointment of a Project Management Unit (PMU) now stand shelved, creating a policy and execution vacuum at a critical juncture.This comes at a time when the city's current smart infrastructure is already faltering. Nagpur's surveillance network — once projected as a cornerstone of urban policing — is witnessing widespread breakdowns. Of the 3,686 cameras installed, only around 2,458 are operational. More than 1,200 cameras are non-functional, including 463 hit by "Notification of Disturbance" (NoD), largely due to repeated optic fibre cuts, hardware failures due to poor coordination during road excavation.The 1,218-km optic fibre cable (OFC) network, meant to serve as the digital backbone, has emerged as a major weak point. Frequent damage and delays in restoration have disrupted real-time monitoring, directly impacting traffic rule enforcement and crime detection.To address the crisis, Rs175 crore has been sought for expansion Smart City CCTV network, including Rs25 crore for NoD rectification. An additional Rs9.9 crore has already been spent. Yet, despite escalating costs, system reliability remains inconsistent.Officials admit that operations of the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), data centre infrastructure and OFC network demand specialised expertise. This critical knowledge currently rests with the existing technical team, which continues to support vendors and OEMs and has repeatedly stepped in to restore services during breakdowns, even in the absence of external support.Meanwhile, delays in key projects underline execution gaps. The Rs197 crore Integrated Intelligent Traffic Management System (IITMS), being implemented by NMC, has missed its February 14, 2026, deadline. Work has been completed at only 39 of 171 junctions, with just 10 signals fully functional. Implementing agency KELTRON has sought an extension, which is pending for approval.Despite these setbacks, past data reflects the system's utility. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 6,014 cases were reviewed at the City Operation Centre, with 2,133 CCTV footage used in legal proceedings. The system has also generated 8.76 lakh e-challans worth Rs47 crore.However, with nearly one-third of cameras down and core infrastructure unstable, its reliability is now under serious strain.Even as fresh tenders have been floated to expand surveillance in Mahal and Reshimbagh, the contrast is stark — expansion without stabilisation, and ambition without a roadmap. With no SPV, no DPR and no PMU in place, Nagpur's Smart City 2.0 now faces its biggest challenge yet: rebuilding both its broken systems and its missing governance framework.SMART CITY BY THE NUMBERSTotal CCTV cameras: 3,686Operational: ~2,458Non-functional: 1,200+NoD-affected cameras: 463OFC network length: 1,218kmProjected upgrade cost: Rs175 croreNoD rectification cost: Rs25 croreFunds already spent: Rs9.9 croreE-challans generated: 8.76 lakhRevenue: Rs46.96 crore