Comprehensive policy paper on need for smart cities in India

Abstract

Past many decades rapid growth of cities is seen all over the world due to migration of people from rural areas to urban areas for better employment opportunities, better education facilities, better health care and overall better quality of life. This trend of migration has increased stress on urban infrastructure like electricity, water, gas, roads, traffic, and sewer systems. Further, rapid industrialization around urban areas and automobile traffic have impacted the ecosystem in and around the cities. Pollution has gone up which led to global warming . Natural resources like petroleum, Coal and other minerals are also depleting day-by-day.Governments across the world are taking steps for greener technologies, renewable energy sources, recycling, energy conservation techniques and sustainable methods. One of the methods is to utilize Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) which take care of optimum utilization of energy resources, better and efficient traffic management, water and sewer management, recycling, open governance, health care, education and high quality of life. Over the past decade, rapid development is observed in ICT field both in hardware and software sectors. Many latest trends are observed in communication technologies like wireless wi-fi, Wimax, WCDMA, 4G LTE and wireline (optical fibre cable) FTTx, DWDM which carry very high bandwidth. Many devices have become smarter like Televisions, Refrigerators, energy meters and other household appliances. These appliances can be remotely controlled and they can communicate with other devices. Wireless mesh networks, Wireless sensors which can measure certain parameters like temperature, voltage, current, pressure etc. are available in the market. Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographical Information System (GIS) have enabled creation of maps, virtual cities both in 2D and 3D, which can be viewed on hand held devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops. The rapid development of new technologies and of innovation processes has resulted in a new city model, the famous "Smart City". A type of city that uses new technologies to make them more livable, functional, competitive and modern through the use of new technologies, the promotion of innovation and knowledge management, bringing together six key fields of performance: the economy, mobility, the environment, citizenship, quality of life and, finally, management . This paper discusses the need for smart cities in India and international perspective of the same. Policy alternatives along with different types of risks involved in implementation of smart cities are also discussed.