When Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, there were lots of new buzzwords to contend with. In addition to catchphrases such as Make in India, Digital India and Start-up India, Indians were also excited by the idea of Smart Cities. After all, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party had promised in its election manifesto to build “100 new cities; enabled with the latest in technology and infrastructure”.
Four years later, have any of those cities actually been built? On Tuesday, Twitter parody account @RealHistoryPic decided to take stock.
Fourth year is running, What's the status of 100 Smart cities promised by PM Narendra Modi?
— History of India (@RealHistoryPic) February 6, 2018
Reply with pictures.
The replies were imaginative.
"Pakodapuru(Besan city), formerly Bengaluru(silicon city)" - Karnataka pic.twitter.com/TJ8AmOQURZ
— SATYAMEVA JAYATE (@SatyamevaSatyam) February 6, 2018
The textile hub of Surat, in Gujarat, has apparently got a Game of Thrones makeover, while the prime minister’s adopted village Jayapur, in Uttar Pradesh, seemed to have benefitted from Disney’s magic touch.
Surat pic.twitter.com/kR0oHGq0Yy
— Amit Shah (@amitshaah_) February 6, 2018
Adaopted Village , Jayapur, Uttar Pradesh-India 2018 pic.twitter.com/pJ6ZtEuoJK
— Anupun Kher (@AnupunKher) February 6, 2018
And this is apparently what Odisha capital Bhubaneswar looks like in 2018.
Bhubaneswar Smart city in 2018. pic.twitter.com/6yKvhyA7Fh
— VOBLR 🇮🇳 (@sandeeprrao1991) February 6, 2018
Srinagar got a Swiss touch, we think…
The #SmartCity Summer Capital Srinagar is now free from stone-pelters & Pakistan flags! Feeling old much?
— Paras Rishi (@parasrishi) February 7, 2018
“Jo kaha woh karke dikhaya, fir se Modi sarkaar” pic.twitter.com/BzBvreSNrB
And the people in Gujarat seemed to have raced ahead of the promised bullet train to ride rocket-propelled camels instead.
Bullet train in Smart City of Ahemdabad .... pic.twitter.com/Kgulp6Ojmh
— Rofl Indian 🚩 (@sab_subh_hai) February 6, 2018
How can we forget gujarat 😁 pic.twitter.com/RjUw6s8jCr
— Amar Akhbar Anthony (@amarakhbaranth1) February 7, 2018
The RSS headquarters in Nagpur got a White House makeover.
RSS HEADQUARTER IN NAGPUR 🚩🚩 pic.twitter.com/6n9GiKWXIQ
— Ayaan khan (@lostayaan14) February 7, 2018
Other tweeters didn’t find the question funny.
Roads with 24/7 drinking water for travellers and special parking in centre 😍
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) February 6, 2018
Pic Courtesy - Madhya Pradesh Smart City pic.twitter.com/Qet1O87n6m
The grand swimming pool in the beautiful smart city of Panjim, Goa. Such development. Much wow. pic.twitter.com/r4DxFfjMLg
— Hasiba (@HasibaAmin) February 7, 2018