Outcomes from Building Transparency in Governance in a Smart City Project in India: A Case Study of Panaji, Goa

Abstract

The Government of India is trying to tackle the challenges of rapid urbanization through the Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015. This paper discusses a case about the development of a smart city under this initiative, which exhibits exemplary governance practices while improving developing infrastructure and technological solutions to solve critical problems of the city, e.g., Solid Waste Management. It addresses the question whether building good governance practices results in successful achievements of a public policy program and aimed at infrastructure development along with best practices in governance. This paper attempts to assess whether the Panaji Smart city project is in line with purpose of the Smart Cities Mission ‘to create model cities which can be triggers for planned and rapid urban development on desired lines’. Information for the case study was collected through published data and personal site visits, interviews and discussions with senior officials of the project team and stakeholders. The findings are useful not only in portraying the Smart City of Panaji with respect to citizen engagement, transparency and accountability but also in evaluating the outcomes of the project. It is interesting to note that the ‘model’ framework adopted to implement the project appears to be filled with good governance but has till date not made much impact on lives of residents of the smart city and as yet does not appear to be creating desired networks that would be connecting to urbanization in the region. (JEL G30)