The installation of 169 smart LED displays across Pune city under the Smart City Mission, which provide real-time updates on traffic, weather, and public announcements, has come under the spotlight. Citizens argue that the installation and maintenance costs could have been better spent on addressing other urban issues, such as potholes, drainage, and footpath repairs. Some people said that a few of them are non-functional, while some claim that these displays are not regularly updated and maintained.
'This misuse of funds is why India keeps sliding down the corruption index'
Ravi Kumar, a resident of Wagholi, said, "Pune is scrambling with crumbling infrastructure. Every road is riddled with potholes, no stretch is free from hawkers, and no place except the Cantonment area is green and clean. Instead of fixing these urgent issues, vast sums of public money are wasted on government display screens that are barely visible during the daytime and costly to maintain. This misuse of funds is why India keeps sliding down the corruption index."
'LED at Datta Mandir Chowk has display issues and is mostly covered with flex'
A civic activist, Raja Subramanyam, added, "The ones near Symbiosis Law School with messages requesting traffic discipline and maintaining civic hygiene are useful. However, the one at Datta Mandir Chowk has display issues and is mostly covered with flex. A well-maintained one providing information on traffic situations, the nearest ATM, petrol pump, parking, etc., could be useful."
'These devices should deliver real-time, relevant messages and not some pre-set message or promotion of some political party'
Vikram Puri, CEO of Transworld Technologies, who provided smart poles in Gujarat, said, "Smart City projects involve many stakeholders, but the real challenge is deciding who will actually run them and at what scale. The community-to-technology connection is crucial, yet critical aspects like traffic density updates, waterlogging alerts, and health risk warnings for dengue-prone areas are often overlooked. These devices should deliver real-time, relevant messages and not some pre-set message or promotion of some political party."
"The installation of these smart LEDs is actually very helpful for community communication. However, it is just the choice of technology that also matters, like in Pune, we have optical fibre-based screens, due to which most of them are non-functional. Instead, they should have used wireless technology. We’ve deployed cameras that help give traffic density updates to the citizens of that area, and signs and warnings of heatwaves and heavy rains are also being reflected. In Pune's case, a lot of public money has been spent on installations, but without the right content and management, the purpose is lost," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the Centre's ambitious Smart Cities Mission in 2016. The Centre had announced the first list of 20 cities to be developed as smart cities. Bhubaneswar topped the list, while Pune was second.
The installation of smart LED displays was done under the Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (PSCDCL). The project was officially shut down on March 31, 2025. The Pune Smart City spent over ₹100 crore on the project.
The Free Press Journal tried to contact a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official. However, he was unavailable for comment.
