PESTEL Analysis to Identify Key Barriers to Smart Cities Development in India

Abstract

The development of smart cities has been gaining attention not only in India but across
borders. The development of these cities is supposed to bring India as a smart India in the global
market. With all odds in favor; these projects are not gaining their expected on-time results. This has
motivated us to think that there are loopholes that are putting hindrance to smart cities development.
The aim of this study is to identify and prioritize mathematically the key barriers using the
neutrosophic PESTEL analysis technique. An extensive literature survey of the problem provides a lot
of factors which are categorized in six main factors such as social, political, legal, ethical and
technological factors. Present work using neutrosophic PESTEL analysis finds that social and political
factors with 93% and 83% are the key barriers to the development of smart cities in India. Other factors
such as Technological and economic factors come at second position securing percentage 75% and 60%
respectively. Environmental and legal factors come at last securing 49% and 43% respectively. The
research’s main focus is to identify and prioritize quantitatively the most important barriers which
come into smart cities development in India. This research in many ways would aid the Government
agencies and policymakers to prioritize the key barriers at an early stage so that the development may
take place as expected and get completed within the stipulated time frame.