Governance was bypassed. SPVs sidelined elected bodies. Plans were consultant-driven, top-down, and disconnected from citizen needs. Local governments had neither control nor capacity. Financially, ₹100 crore/year per city was insufficient. Most cities couldn’t raise matching funds. Many spent on routine works like roads and CCTV under a “smart” label. 30% of funds stayed unused. The mission delivered dashboards, not transformation. True smartness lies in systems in inclusive planning, long-term finance, and citywide equity not sensors The core issue: only 1–3% of city areas were developed under “Area-Based Development” (ABD), creating isolated smart zones. Most of the city its housing, transport, and sanitation was untouched. Cities like Bhopal and Jaipur focused on LED lights and Wi-Fi in small heritage pockets. Basic issues water, waste, mobility remained unresolved. Smartness stayed limited to select neighborhoods..