In a survey conducted with more than 100 persons in T Nagar —half of them from marginalised sections — residing within one-kilometre of where the project is being implemented, around 80%said they were not aware of the project. “Of the 20% who have heard about the project, none of them had participated in any consultation or discussions on smart city mission,” the report stated. 

The core infrastructure elements in a smart city included adequate water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation, affordable housing for the poor and digitalization of governance. However, an analysis of the list of projects under the Chennai smart city proposal revealed that 47% of the budget was towards improving urban mobility and transportation. The second highest allocation, 20%, was for ensuring electric supply, and the rest was for water, sanitation, solid waste management and sustainable environment activities. 

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