The Solar City programme aims to: (1) enable and empower Urban Local Governments to address energy challenges at City – level.
(2) provide a framework and support to prepare a Master Plan including assessment of current energy situation, future demand and action plans (3) build capacity in the Urban Local Bodies and create awareness among all sections of civil society (4) involve various stakeholders in the planning process and (5) oversee the implementation of sustainable energy options through public – private partnerships. Under the program assistance will be provided to urban local governments by providing financial assistance and technical help for: (1) Preparation of a master plan for increasing renewable energy supply and energy efficiency measures in the city (2) Setting-up institutional arrangements for the implementation of the master plan (3) Awareness generation and capacity building activities and (4) Implementation of projects as per financial incentives under various programmes of MNRE. MNRE has given guidelines for preparation of master plan. These Master Plans should contain the base line for energy consumption during the year 2008, demand forecasting for the years 2013 and 2018, sector-wise strategies and action plan for implementation of renewable energy projects so as to mitigate the fossil fuel consumption in the city. This will contain details of identified project sites so that, the project proposals could be developed
Source: http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/solar_city_guidelines.pdf