1. WHAT IS A SMART CITY?
A smart city utilizes the information and communication technology to
improve their operational efficiency, for the citizens welfare, to share
information with the public and provide them with efficient quality of
government services.
In simple terms one may can a smart city as the one where its citizens
have access to Smart energy, Smart mobility, Smart living, Smart
communication and Smart homes.
The primary goal of a smart city is to optimize city functions and promote
economic growth alongside improving the quality of life by using smarter
technologies
The quality lies in how this technology is enforced and any city’s
smartness is determined using following set of characteristics like:
-Infrastructure based around technology
-The Environmental initiatives
-Effective, presently functional public transportation
-Economically progressive city plans
2.
3. WHAT IS THE SMART CITIES MISSION?
The National Smart Cities Mission is an
urban renewal and reconstructing
program by the Government of India
brought up with the aim to develop
smart cities across the country, making
them citizen friendly and sustainable.
The Union Ministry of Urban
Development is responsible for
implementing the mission in
collaboration with the state governments
of the respective cities. Initially the
mission included 100 cities, with the
deadline for completion of the projects
set between 2019 and 2023.
4. MAJOR REFORMS A CITY UNDERGOES
TO BECOME SMART CITY?
A smart city uses an integrated approach to modernize it's digital,
physical and social infrastructure to make services in the city more
efficient, equitable, connected, secure, sustainable.
Few major reforms to look forward to while a city makes transit to
becoming a smart city may include the following-
• Better focus on grid modernization and advanced telecommunication.
• Improvements in efficiency in investments in renewable energy
technologies ensure better smart energy in the City.
• Partnering with hubs of innovation can ensure easier transit to
becoming smart in terms of technological aspects.
• Emerging trends such as automation, machine learning and the IoT are
driving smart city adoption.
5. A few stand out smart cities across the world as the furthest
ahead in development include the following:
● Kansas City, Missouri
● San Diego, California
● New York City, New York
● Toronto, Canada
● Singapore
● Vienna, Austria
● Barcelona, Spain
● Tokyo, Japan
● London, England
● Melbourne, Australia
● Dubai, United Arab Emirates
6. PUNE AS A SMART CITY
What makes Pune a smart city?
1. High Literacy Rate: – Pune has a literacy rate of 01.42 % of Pune Urban
Agglomeration (UA) which is the highest amongst the top ten urban
agglomerations in India. The city comes at 5th position all over the country in
terms of literacy.
2. Quality of Life: – Pune is placed at a decent 145th position globally and at
good 2nd position for the decent standard of living rate.
3. IT Destination: – Over the years, Pune has able to establish itself as a
notable IT destination in the country. Home to hundreds of top IT companies
like WIPRO, Accenture, TCS and Volkswagen, the city sees hundreds of youths
shifting their base to the city in the need of employment.
4. Education Hub: – The city has more than 9 deemed universities and 400
colleges affiliated to the Pune University, offering courses across various
streams. Almost 45% of foreign students who come to study in India choose
Pune as their education city. It is crowned “Oxford of the East”.
7. SOME OF THE SMART CITY PROJECTS:
Smart LED: A smart and sustainable street lighting solution, controlled from a
command centre, creates brighter, safer neighbourhoods.
E-Bikes: The world’s first dock-less, bike-sharing platform operated via mobile
app. A step in Pune’s goal of reclaiming the tag “city of cycles”.
Place making: A project to develop vacant lot spaces to provide smart services
and more to local residents, who haven’t until now had access to IoT technology.
Part of Pune’s strategy to revitalize the streets.
A state-of-the-art transit hub that comprises a metro station, bus rapid transit
system, and a control centre to monitor over 2,000 buses.
A massive river rejuvenation project to minimize flooding and curb sewage and
turn the area into parkland that all the citizens can access.
The Lighthouse Program plans to launch a total of fifteen “lighthouses” that will
act as community hubs in slum communities. These centres provide foundation
courses and skills training in digital technologies, as well as assisting participants
in envisioning and reaching career goals.
8.
9. SMART CITY BHUBANESWAR
Transport
Bhubaneswar aims to create a “user-friendly transport system that offers citizens a
combination of flexibility, intelligence and sustainable alternative modes of travel.”
Waste
Like many growing cities, Bhubaneswar has increasing volumes of waste
generated by a burgeoning population. It is looking at ways to better manage trash
collection, recycling and sewage, as well as reducing litter, improving access to
public toilets and eliminating open defecation.
Smart District
Bhubaneswar is developing a pilot ‘smart district’ which implements smart city tools
and solutions in a defined area. The district, voted for by the public, is 985 acres
and brings together people, jobs and services and prioritizes walking, cycling and
public transport.
M-Office BMC - This app enables BMC authorities to resolve issues raised by
citizens more easily.
