With the urban development ministry still caught up in preparing the concept note for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 100 smart cities scheme, the PMO has set December-end as the deadline to make a final presentation. Sources said the deadline is aimed at fast-tracking the scheme so that some work can start by the end of FY2015.

The ministry is staring at surrendering most of the Rs. 6,274 crore budget allocated this year for the smart cities programme, and a new mission for renewal of urban infrastructure in place of JNNURM. According to a report, so far about Rs. 800 crore from this allocation has been utilised under urban transport head and another Rs. 200 crore could be used by March 2014.