UrbanizationUrbanization has been shaping economies, standards of living and theEnvironment environment in the global south. With a rapid pace of urbanization, there is increasing demand for better access to basic amenities, housing, quality and resilientResilient infrastructure and energy. At the same time, the adverse effects on the environment, resources, and urban commons are also visible. Addressing such concerns requires measures of sustainableDevelopment development at national, sub-national/regional scales particularly inUrban planning urban planning and urban design. To make urban places liveableLiveable, resilient and sustainable, smart solutions, technology-based applications, and advanced effective digital spaces are being emphasized in urban planning. The Smart CitiesSmart city MissionSmart cities mission covering one hundred cities, launched in the country in the middle of the past decade offers immense promises and opportunities in making cities smart, integrated and sustainable. However, whether smart cities would lead to achieving the agenda of urbanSustainability sustainability or smart citiesSmart city remains a partially addressed query. Under the Mission, there are three cities in Punjab and ten cities in Uttar Pradesh states of India. Based on secondary data sources and relevant information, the present study analyses urbanizationUrbanization and urban growthUrban growth patterns in the selected cities of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh; elucidates components, elements and strategies of smart cities planning; examines performance and unconventional initiatives introduced in making them as smart urban spaces; and study explores the significance of smart cities in urban sustainabilityUrban sustainability and inherent challenges.