Abstract

Imphal, the capital city of Manipur, was one of 100 cities awarded bids in India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM). The extension of the SCM to the borderland is an extension of zone-logic, enrolling the recalcitrant frontier into economic networks that cross India. Through a reading of Imphal’s smart city bid and implementation strategy, this chapter makes three main arguments. First, unlike zone-making projects in other parts of Asia where local elites, brokers, and/or local governments doggedly pursue the granting of zones, the extension of the SCM to Imphal has been driven more by obligation than desire. Second, the idea of an “open city” is counter to the lived reality of surveillance, checkpoints, and limits on mobility and assembly that characterise life in the city. Third, Imphal's meagre bid and lack of preparedness is barely relevant to the smart city award, as the geopolitical imperatives outweigh all other factors.

Keywords: smart cities, digital development zones, surveillance, Northeast India, Imphal

Smart city provides the citizens high quality cost effective service seamlessly and with a minimum use of resources. Smart cities will use technology, gather and collate information and data using smart solution [sic] with the aim of improving the services and infrastructures. The information gathered will be in real time thereby providing quicker solutions to problems on hands [sic]. Digital technology offers most services at the click of the mouse which otherwise involved a physical presence of the resident to receive many of the services such as banking, shopping, government services (payment of taxes, bills, accessing information's etc.).

Smart cities are high on the social indices, good and transparent governance. As a result the quality of life improves creating feel-good factors in the individual. This would also lead to higher productivity, employment opportunities and income generation and consequently inclusive growth […]. Unless we change our mind set (including common people, public leaders, and bureaucrat officers) toward a progressive orientation with a commitment, the dream of Imphal Smart city may find hard to translate into reality. So, we all need to cooperate to the government for a progressive Manipur [sic].

Sanjenbam Jugeshwor Singh, Imphal Times [op-ed], 25 April 2019

The Manipur government has imposed a prohibitory order on Imphal West district for two months in view of the continued protests against the new citizenship law, an official said on Sunday.