The Smart City Paradox: Gentrification and Displacement of the Adivasi Community - The study on Ranchi, Jharkhand

The study examines the socio-spatial implications of Smart City investments in Ranchi, Jharkhand, a tribal-majority capital city undergoing rapid urban transformation. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of smart urbanism and state-led gentrification, the research investigates whether infrastructure-led modernization reshapes land markets, demographic composition, and housing affordability. A ward-level longitudinal panel design is employed to analyse changes in infrastructure access, rent levels, land values, Tribal population share, and inclusion outcomes. The findings indicate significant improvements in service delivery, digital penetration, and overall infrastructure performance across wards. However, these gains coincide with rising rents and land price appreciation, contributing to measurable affordability pressures. Smart investment intensity is positively associated with market escalation; governance and inclusion-oriented policy mechanisms significantly influence distributional outcomes. The results suggest that urban modernization in Ranchi reflects a dual dynamic: infrastructure expansion enhances service access, and market-driven restructuring generates affordability tensions. Importantly, demographic concentration of tribal populations does not independently determine inclusion performance, underscoring the mediating role of institutional frameworks. The study contributes to debates on the “smart city paradox” by demonstrating that equitable urban transformation in indigenous contexts depends not only on investment intensity but also on governance responsiveness and regulatory safeguards.