Building Socio-Ecological Resilience through Smart City Governance: Gender, Sustainability, and Disaster Management in Varanasi

By : Krishna Pratap Singh , Archisman Bhattacharya , Abhinav Sharma

Page No: 397-414

Abstract
Civilisation is fundamentally defined by the evolution of civic society. As the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 and 10.4 billion by 2100, urbanisation remains a critical global trend. While industrialised nations currently maintain an 80 per cent urbanisation rate, less developed regions are expected to grow from 46.5 per cent to 64 per cent by 2050; specifically, India’s urban population is anticipated to reach 404 million. To address this growth sustainably, the Government of India launched the Smart City Mission (SCM), focusing on retrofitting, redevelopment, and greenfield expansion. This paper evaluates the Varanasi Smart City project. Despite its cultural significance, Varanasi faces severe demographic pressures that increase its vulnerability during major festivals and fairs. By utilising secondary data, including government reports and academic journals, this research assesses how the SCM enhances disaster management, safety, and socio-economic welfare in Varanasi.

Authors
Krishna Pratap Singh, Research Scholar (UGC SRF) Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Archisman Bhattacharya, Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
Dr. Abhinav Sharma, Professor, Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
 

DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/NL.2025.57.04.1