New Delhi’s ambitious aims to develop ICT-enabled urban developments, or “Smart Cities”, with modern infrastructure across India with its relatively small $1.2 billion seed money could, according to a recent UK government report, create a market place worth almost $450 billion. Many experts suggest this is a conservative estimate.

Many experts suggest this is a conservative estimate. Unsurprisingly, media and stakeholder attention has tended to focus on the potential economic rewards in building these cities. However, ‘bricks & mortar’ investment without human development and effective governance model, more often than not leaves behind white elephants rather than vibrant urban living spaces.