A decade on, Rs 577-crore Smart City works still pending in Karnal, Faridabad

139 projects completed

- Both Karnal and Faridabad claimed total Central assistance of Rs 980 crore

- There are total 161 projects with an outlay of Rs 2,136 crore

- 139 projects amounting to Rs 1,559 crore completed

Nearly 10 years after Faridabad and Karnal were selected under the Central Government’s ambitious Smart Cities Mission, 22 projects worth Rs 577 crore are still under implementation. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu informed Sirsa MP Kumari Selja in the Lok Sabha that out of 161 projects worth Rs 2,136 crore, 139 projects (86%) amounting to Rs 1,559 crore had been completed as of December 1, 2025.

Sahu said both cities had already claimed their full Central assistance of Rs 980 crore (Rs 490 crore each). Of this, Rs 921 crore has been utilised. Earlier, the ministry had advised the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) of both smart cities to ensure that all ongoing projects are completed by December 2025.

Karnal is represented in the Lok Sabha by Manohar Lal Khattar, who also serves as the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, while Faridabad is represented by Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister of State for Cooperation.

Faridabad and Karnal were among the 100 cities announced as smart cities under the flagship programme aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive urban development through improved infrastructure, mobility, digital systems and citizen-centric services.

Khattar’s Karnal yet to utilise Central assistance

Despite being represented by the Union Minister in charge of Housing and Urban Affairs, Karnal is yet to utilise Rs 59 crore of its Central share. Karnal undertook 117 projects worth Rs 1,207 crore, of which 105 projects (Rs 801 crore) have been completed. Twelve projects worth Rs 406 crore are still ongoing.

Faridabad, on the other hand, undertook 44 projects worth Rs 929 crore. Of these, 34 projects (Rs 758 crore) have been completed, while 10 projects worth Rs 171 crore are in progress.