The Government Just Announced The List Of 20 Smart Cities. Is Yours On The List?

The Indian government’s plan to implement the idea of ‘Smart Cities’ just kickstarted with the Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu just announcing the list of the 20 cities that have been selected for further development.

But before you proceed to find out if you city is on the list, find out what a Smart City is.

 

What is a smart city?

A ‘smart city’ will be an urban region that will not only be advanced and developed in terms of infrastructure, but also sustainable real estate, communications, and ease of making markets accessible and effective. The main infrastructure of the city will be built around information technology which will also be the basis for providing services to residents. Basically, in terms of functionality and economic outputs, a smart city might be able to outgrow the Metros despite their larger size and more number of people.

 

What are the basic aspects of a smart city?

Adequate water supply
Assured electricity supply
Sanitation, including solid waste management
Efficient urban mobility and public transport
Affordable housing, especially for the poor
Robust IT connectivity and digitalisation
Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation
Sustainable environment
Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly
Health and education

 

How will it be different?

A ‘smart city’ will promote a healthy and decent quality of life for its citizens while it promotes core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment using ‘smart solutions’ which includes: E-governance and Citizen Services, Energy Management, Waste Management, Urban Mobility, Water Management and other miscellaneous solutions that will be put to use as when required.

The government has set Rs. 48,000 crores for the project which will be periodically given out to local urban bodies according to the requirement in the next 5 years. The rest Rs. 48,000 of the estimated budget of Rs. 96,000 crores will be generated by the State Governments.

 

This will bring benefits to the city and nation as a whole in leaps and bounds.

News Source: The Hindu, smartcities.gov.in
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