Kolkata’s New Town was designed as a model “smart city” for modern, sustainable urban living—complete with electric buses, solar power, and top-tier green certifications. But behind its wide roads and rapid growth lies a more complex reality. Over three decades, the area has lost around 60% of its green cover, contributing to rising urban heat. Rapid expansion is also encroaching on the East Kolkata Wetlands, a protected ecosystem critical for wastewater treatment and local livelihoods. While advances in waste management and e-mobility stand out, challenges like flooding, pollution, and uneven infrastructure raise questions about how sustainable this urban future really is. What would it take to make a city genuinely sustainable?