The Ministry of Urban Development has selected 20 cities to be taken up for development as smart cities under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. The key focus area will be infrastructure development with a greater focus on efficient deployment of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions.
The core ICT elements in a smart city will include robust information technology connectivity, digitisation, e-governance and citizen participation. The successful execution of these initiatives will set an example that can be replicated both within and outside the city, catalysing the creation of similar smart cities across the country.
Smart Utilities takes a look at the ICT deployment plans of the 20 cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge (in alphabetical order)…
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Ahmedabad ranks sixth among the cities selected under Round I of the challenge. The city has formulated plans to deploy a number of advanced technology solutions to improve service delivery. There is a proposal to set up a command and control centre to operate and manage multiple city operations, which will involve the integration of existing control centres such as the e-governance-based complaint redressal system.
There is another proposal for the installation of an intelligent traffic management system, which includes the induction of an intelligent red-light violation system, an area traffic control system and variable message signs at key junctions. In addition, the installation of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system has been proposed to detect faults at an early stage in the electricity system. The city has also proposed a project to install weight sensors on garbage bins to track the quantity of garbage and send out signals when the bin is full.
Belagavi, Karnataka
Belagavi ranks 15th among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. The main features of the area-based proposal include the improvement of civic amenities with greater emphasis on e-governance. The city aims to provide 24×7 water supply as well as install smart meters to reduce the amount of non-revenue water (NRW). Further, there are plans to provide a pan-city e-governance system, and deploy smart traffic and transportation systems using different ICT modules. In addition, the installation of smart meters to ensure 24×7 power supply has been proposed.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
The city ranks 20th among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. There are plans to provide fibre optic connectivity (high speed internet connectivity) to each household and office in the city. In addition, a range of e-governance applications will be introduced to ease the exchange of information between people and various government departments. The city intends to develop a centralised command and control centre. Besides, the deployment of an intelligent traffic management system has been proposed.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Bhubaneswar ranks first among the cities selected under Round I of the challenge. The city’s area-based plan proposes the implementation of an efficient e-governance system and a pan-city Wi-Fi project. There are plans to develop an integrated city operations and management centre. Besides, a proposal has been formulated to install SCADA-enabled smart meters for monitoring transmission and distribution losses in electricity supply. In addition, a pilot project for the installation of 200 smart bins with solar compaction and the deployment of a radio frequency identification (RFID) based operational management system across the solid waste management (SWM) value chain has been proposed.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Chennai ranks 18th among the selected cities. The city plan’s primary focus is on the provision of adequate water supply and sanitation services, and automation of utility systems. The city aims to deploy a sensor-based monitoring system, as well as an intelligent traffic management system to provide real-time information about the arrival and departure of buses and trains.
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
The city has been ranked 13th among the cities selected. There are plans to deploy smart meters for utility services, provide 24×7 water supply and lay underground electricity cables. In addition, the municipal corporation intends to increase the number of domestic water connections to 85 per cent and smart metered connections to 100 per cent.
Davanagere, Karnataka
Davanagere ranks 10th among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. The city plans to enhance IT connectivity with Wi-Fi-enabled services in order to improve its service delivery. Besides, a two-way communication system, including one city-one website and mobile application, and one city-one number call centre support will be set up to improve interaction between people and the civic agency. A public engagement platform and a public participation platform will also be launched.
Guwahati, Assam
The city ranks 17th among the cities selected in the challenge. There are plans to deploy intelligent sensor-based networks for monitoring water resources, install CCTV cameras for surveillance at bus stops and parking places, and set up an integrated ICT-enabled transport system. Besides, there has been a proposal to install a global positioning system (GPS), as well as provide Wi-Fi connectivity and computers at public places as well as in government buildings.
Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Indore ranks 11th among the cities selected. The city aims to provide 24×7 water supply by installing smart meters and a SCADA system. There are plans to provide 100 per cent public Wi-Fi connectivity through an extensive optic fibre network. In addition, a command and control centre with adequate software/hardware facilities, and a dashboard for urban governance and services will be developed.
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
The city ranks 17th among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. It aims to develop an IT-enabled smart waste management system. Further, smart meters will be installed for monitoring the water supply system. There are plans to set up public Wi-Fi hotspots at six locations with a 250-metre radius range. In addition, the city intends to improve service delivery by digitising government services.
Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jaipur ranks third among the cities selected under the challenge. The city plans to install smart meters for monitoring water and power supply. It also aims to increase the coverage of smart water meters and install an automated online water quality monitoring system. Further, there are plans to make the entire city Wi-Fi enabled and set up social media-based two-way communication systems to improve interaction with people.
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh
Kakinada ranks 14th among the cities selected. The key features of the smart city plan include the installation of smart meters to monitor the water supply and a geographic information system (GIS)-enabled system to effectively levy and collect property tax. Further, the city has proposed to take up GIS-enabled mapping as a part of the National GIS Mission under Digital India. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited along with the city municipal corporation has already identified 20 feasible locations to install towers to ensure 100 per cent internet connectivity. The city further plans to provide ICT-based intelligent urban services that are centred on the concept of internet of things.
Kochi, Kerala
Kochi ranks fifth among the cities selected under Round I of the challenge. There are plans to provide 24×7 metered piped water supply in the proposed area. As a part of the project, smart meters will be deployed for over 10,000 household connections. An integrated system will be developed for the delivery of government-to-citizen services using smart cards and mobile platforms. In addition, steps will be taken to provide the EMV-enabled smart card payment system for all civic services. The city also intends to introduce an integrated mobile platform for citizen engagement.
Ludhiana, Punjab
Ludhiana ranks 19th among the selected cities. There are plans to revamp the entire water distribution network with the replacement of valves, and the installation of smart meters and a SCADA system. Besides, a GIS-enabled system will be developed for levying and collecting property taxes. GPS-enabled devices will also be deployed to monitor the movement of the e-rickshaws that will eventually replace diesel autorickshaws.
NDMC, Delhi
The New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), ranks 12th among the cities selected under the challenge. It plans to develop an integrated mobile-based application for providing civic services. Further, an integrated citizen application will be developed for providing real-time information on car-pooling, cycling, traffic conditions, CCTV videos, air quality, e-challans, etc. The city also aims to develop a RFID-enabled garbage bin monitoring system.
Pune, Maharashtra
Pune ranks second among the cities selected under Round I of the challenge. There are plans to set up an intelligent operation centre for storing and maintaining data related to utilities, transport and public safety. Further, a mobile application will be developed to redress citizens’ grievances. The city also aims to install an intelligent traffic management system, including an adaptive traffic management system, an intelligent road asset management system and a smart parking system.
Solapur, Maharashtra
Solapur ranks ninth among the selected cities. The city plans to reduce the NRW component of water supply (which is 57 per cent at present) through the installation of smart meters and strengthening of the distribution network. In order to strengthen its e-governance system, there will be a provision for access to real-time traffic data and information on parking facilities in the city through various mobile applications.
Surat, Gujarat
Surat ranks fourth among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. There are plans to install smart meters for all water connections. Further, the civic agency plans to deploy a GPS-based vehicle-tracking system for SWM. RFID systems will be deployed at 80,000 door-to-door garbage collection points and 160 smart bins. The civic agency also has plans to work in collaboration with IT solution providers such as Microsoft and IBM for improving citizen interaction.
Further, it plans to introduce enterprise resource planning systems in all departments and make each department accessible through mobile applications, social media, etc. There are also plans to develop an integrated website for sharing data (traffic details, administrative data, etc.).
Udaipur, Rajasthan
Udaipur ranks 16th among the cities selected under Round I of the Smart Cities Challenge. As per the plan submitted by the city, water and wastewater management, uninterrupted power supply, and SWM are the key focus areas. Plans have been formulated to create infrastructure for 24×7 water supply along with the installation of a SCADA system and automatic water meters. Further, city surveillance will be undertaken through smart cameras. An ICT-enabled utility control centre will also be established, which will be integrated with the city command centre. Besides, mobile applications using an interactive map base will be developed for tourists.
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam ranks eighth among the cities selected under Round I of the challenge. The city plans to focus on enhancing e-governance in the city. To this end, smart cameras will be installed for city surveillance. An ICT-enabled utility control centre will be set up, which will be fully integrated with the city command centre. Besides, an interactive map base and mobile applications will be developed for tourists.