We in Goa have seen how Panaji has metamorphosed into a nightmare ever since the Goa government started on 'Project Smart City', enough has been written about it to merit repetition. Even Modi doesn't utter the phrase 'smart city' anymore after launching it with much fanfare in 2015. The purported aim was to improve the quality of life in 100 select cities across India by providing efficient services, robust infrastructure and sustainable solutions encompassing housing, transport, education , healthcare and recreation. But there is another smart city being built from the ground up which predates the original 100 SCs. Touted as India’s Shenzhen, Dholera Smart City in Gujarat, launched in 2008 is another colossal flop ; it’s still a ghost town in 2025 with only 95 per cent of Phase 1 infrastructure completed and barely any residents or industries. Promised as a global hub of manufacturing and services it’s mired in delays, scams and shelved port plans. Modi’s lofty promises, lies, skullduggery and (non) visionary leadership is a masterclass in hype over substance. The government should stop wasting taxpayer's money and immediately put an end to this megascam called smart cities.
