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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(smart city mission rti,scm rti,smart city spv rti,rti smart city project,smart city tender rti,smart city fund utilisation rti 2026)&metatag-description=(Wondering where Smart City Mission funds went in your city? File RTI to the Smart City SPV / Urban Development Department for project list, utilisation certificate, and audit.)}}
+====== Smart City Mission Questions? RTI to the SPV and Urban Dept ======
+{{ :social:auto:rti-for-smart-city-mission.png?direct&1200 |RTI for Smart City Mission — RTI Wiki}}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP center round tip 95%>
+**Need help drafting this RTI?** Use our free **[[:tools:rti-assistant|RTI Assistant]]** — describe your problem, get a ready-to-file Section 6(1) application with your name and address pre-filled. Also handles First Appeal and Second Appeal to the CIC/SIC.
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP info>
+**In one line.** The Smart Cities Mission (SCM) delivers through city-level Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) — joint ventures of the Urban Local Body and the State. These SPVs are public authorities; their project list, utilisation certificates, tender records, and CAG audits are disclosable.
+</WRAP>
+Part of **[[:rti-for-community|Pillar 2 — RTI for Community & Society]]**. See also [[:rti-for-metro-project|metro project RTI]].
+===== What is the problem =====
+  * **Announced projects** not visible on ground.
+  * **Fund utilisation** not reported at city level.
+  * **Area-based development (ABD)** selection process opaque.
+  * **Pan-city solutions** (command centre, smart traffic) vendor concerns.
+  * **SPV governance** — board minutes, director list.
+  * **Completion certificates** issued; work visibly unfinished.
+===== When to use RTI =====
+  * Project-completion claim doesn't match reality.
+  * CAG performance-audit paragraphs surface; want SPV response.
+  * ABD selection dispute in your ward.
+  * Fund-mismatch between ministerial answers and local data.
+===== What you can ask =====
+  * List of approved projects — with sanction, status, cost, start-date, and expected-completion.
+  * Fund release from Centre + State + ULB + convergence.
+  * Utilisation certificates (UCs) — year-wise.
+  * Tender records for each project — LoA, evaluation minutes.
+  * Board / Project Review Committee minutes of the SPV.
+  * Completion certificates and third-party audit reports.
+  * Citizen-engagement records for ABD selection.
+===== Step-by-step RTI filing =====
+  * **Smart City SPV** — city-level CPIO.
+  * **State Urban Development Department** — state-level oversight.
+  * **Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)** — for scheme-level / cross-city questions via ''rtionline.gov.in''.
+  * **Urban Local Body (municipal corporation)** — for ULB-contributed projects.
+  * Rs. 10 fee; BPL free.
+===== Sample RTI application =====
+<code>
+To,
+The Public Information Officer,
+[Smart City SPV — CPIO] / Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs / State Urban Development Department,
+[Address]
+Subject: Information under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005, regarding Smart Cities Mission.
+Sir/Madam,
+I, [Name], resident of [Full Address, City, State], submit:
+City: ________
+Ward / Zone of concern: ________
+Specific project of interest (if any): ________
+Please provide:
+. Certified list of all Smart City projects in my city — sanctioned, in-progress, completed — with cost, start date, expected-completion date, and current status.
+. Fund-release position — Centre / State / ULB / convergence / private — for each financial year since inception.
+. Utilisation certificates submitted to MoHUA.
+. Tender records for [specific project, if asked] — RFP, technical evaluation minutes, financial bid comparison, Letter of Award.
+. Board and Project Review Committee minutes of the SPV for the last 2 years.
+. Completion certificates and third-party audit reports for completed projects.
+. Citizen-engagement records (surveys, consultations) used for Area-Based Development selection.
+. CAG / State AG performance-audit observations on Smart City projects in my city, with SPV responses.
+. SPV Director list with appointment notifications and tenure.
+. First Appellate Authority contact.
+I enclose Indian Postal Order No. __________ for Rs. 10.
+I declare I am an Indian citizen.
+Yours faithfully,
+[Signature, Date, Place]
+</code>
+===== 10 RTI questions =====
+  - Project list + status.
+  - Fund-release position.
+  - Utilisation certificates.
+  - Tender records.
+  - SPV Board minutes.
+  - Completion certificates.
+  - Citizen-engagement records.
+  - CAG observations + SPV response.
+  - SPV Director list.
+  - FAA contact.
+===== What happens next =====
+  * **Day 0–10** RTI routed.
+  * **Day 10–25** SPV pulls project register; UCs and tender records compiled.
+  * **Day 30** Reply mandatory.
+  * **Day 30+** First Appeal; follow-up via MoHUA if project-level issues.
+===== Common mistakes =====
+  * Asking MoHUA for city-level data — MoHUA has summary; **SPV has the detail**.
+  * Not specifying the project / ward.
+  * Missing the **citizen-engagement records** — they're the soft ground for ABD disputes.
+  * Filing multiple sub-questions as separate RTIs; bundle them unless the CPIO requests separation.
+===== Case law anchors =====
+  * **Vishwas Bhamburkar v. PIO, DDA** (CIC, 2013) — SPVs of public authorities are in RTI scope.
+  * **Thalappalam Service Co-op Bank v. State of Kerala** (2013) 16 SCC 82 — substantial financing test.
+  * **Namit Sharma v. Union of India** (2013) 1 SCC 745 — transparency in public works.
+===== Pro tips =====
+  * **Before filing**, download the city's Smart City Proposal (SCP) — all proposals are at ''smartcities.gov.in''. Reference page numbers in the RTI.
+  * **For ABD selection disputes**, the consultation record is the pivot.
+  * **Convergence projects** — ask for the parent scheme link (AMRUT / PMAY / Swachh Bharat).
+  * **SPV JV structure** — verify the state + ULB shareholding; it establishes RTI jurisdiction.
+===== FAQs =====
+**Q1. Is the Smart City SPV a private company?**\\ Legally a company under the Companies Act; functionally a public authority (state / ULB-controlled).
+**Q2. Are tender records always disclosable?**\\ Technical bids and evaluation minutes — yes, post-award. Financial breakdown may be redacted under §8(1)(d).
+**Q3. What happens to SPV assets post-Mission?**\\ They transfer to the ULB. RTI extracts the transfer plan.
+**Q4. Is there a grievance portal?**\\ ''smartcities.gov.in'' has a feedback module; reference the ticket in the RTI.
+===== Conclusion =====
+Smart Cities Mission is a city-level public works programme. RTI lets residents audit the projects, funds, and governance — and ensures the "smart" outcomes are accountable outcomes.
+===== Related reading =====
+  * [[:rti-for-metro-project|RTI for metro project]]
+  * [[:rti-for-slum-rehabilitation|RTI for slum rehabilitation]]
+  * [[:rti-for-community|Pillar 2 — Community]]
+  * [[:rti-to-track-government-spending|Track government spending via RTI]]
+===== Sources =====
+  * Smart Cities Mission Guidelines, 2015 (rev.)
+  * RTI Act, 2005
+  * //Thalappalam Co-op Bank v. State of Kerala// (2013) 16 SCC 82
+----
+//Last reviewed: 21 April 2026.//
+{{tag>rti smart-city mission urban spv community pillar-2}}

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