By Indrajit Sen
There is currently a lot of discussion on this subject of “smart city”. A lot of expectations and curiosity are building up to see what this is all about. Hence it is only right that some basic issues need to be clarified. Firstly, “smart” is in the context of an age when connectivity and access to information of all kinds is instant and available to all. This has impacted people’s expectations greatly and with the knowledge that comes from the information, we desire all services instantly & even without being asked if possible. Thus, we expect an environment that ‘knows’ at the same time, or even just before, a human does as to when a parameter needs changing or simply be available for use as and when required – for example, when do the lights at home need to come on ? how powerful does the air-conditioning need to be in a room with one person versus when there are – say – 3 people in the room ? can I reach a bus stop and know exactly when the next bus on the route that I need will arrive ? can I stand anywhere in the city and read the latest news or watch the cricket match on my hand-held phone or tablet ? if I need any emergency help, can I just sms or dial a number and they automatically know exactly where I am and reach me within few minutes ? can I simply drink water from any tap in the city ? and many many more …. So, now if we have to fulfil some of these aspirations of people and have cities with all these attributes, we can either start from scratch and build one or take one that’s existing and convert it to being ‘smart’.
Lets presume, we have this opportunity to build a Smart City from scratch. Where does one start ? what could be the first step ?
- First and foremost, a city – smart or not – needs to be economically and commercially viable. Without adequate means to a livelihood, no one lives in a city – at best it can become a camp for retirees with pension funds to spend. Hence, first necessity is determination of kinds of economic activity that can be viable at that location. This could be either service businesses or trading centres or a combination of above with manufacturing activity.
- With that as primary consideration, expected population and kinds of population needs to be established.
- Data above to be used for developing a detailed urban plan including rules for building residential/commercial/industrial/public structures;
- Infrastructure to be provided must be green, renewable and sustainable & designed to make citizens proud of the city and identify with it :
(a) power sources to be solar + wind (where feasible) + bio-gas + access to normal power grid as back-up;
(b) roads / bridges / flyovers with 30 years development in mind + all underground cabling in ducts + pavements with storm-water drainage + rain-water harvesting + extensive street / public lighting using LEDs & automated switching systems;
(c) extensive public bus network with CNG or Hydrogen Fuel-Cell operation;
(d) water recycling plant with water filtration plants for drinking water with modular system design so that additional plants may be seamlessly operationalized in future ;
(e) extensive (at least 50% ) green cover;
(f) 3G / 4G telecom access + wifi using street lighting cable network;
(g) multi-level car parking structures to be provided to save ground space;
(h) public emergency vehicles to be made available extensively;
(i) medical facilities – primary, secondary and emergency to be available with pharmacy networks;
(j) extensive CCTV cameras, linked with localised (zone-wise) security control centres and alarm systems;
(k) traffic controls based on traffic lights and simple rules like priorities at traffic circles, enforced strictly thru heavy fines based on CCTV footage;
(l) extensively providing bus-shelters, digital display systems for commercial and public information, litter bins, large garbage collection systems, seats/benches, safety railings / bollards, decorative tree – guards, signage network for identification / directions / information / safety / emergency, public toilets, public drinking water fountains;
(m) waste-collection and disposal systems including final management of solid waste;
(n) efficient and minimalistic civic administration with strict enforcement of building rules, public property maintenance rules like no spitting, littering, urinating, etc., in public (these need to be framed if necessary & these do not exist already);
(o) provision of aesthetic expressions of identity like sculptures and murals and specially designed open / public spaces.
In this case, obviously, the most complicated and time consuming job will be to make the comprehensive Development Plan. Once this is in place, specific projects need to be allotted to private companies to execute with minimalistic but thorough government supervision and a fixed timeline.
The other option is to identify an existing city with well-established and successful economic and robust commercial activities, with at least a minimal level of infrastructure already present. In this case also, the task is to start with the sources of livelihood, forecast its growth over next 20 years and the way this is likely to impact population. Hence, create a comprehensive Development Plan based on these inputs.
The parameters to be tackled essentially remain the same as for the option described above. However, in this case implementation always becomes a challenge. How can arterial roads with bustling commercial activity and markets be widened drastically without or minimally affecting daily life ? at a worst case level, it may require demolishing shops and buildings and re-building after road is widened and all infrastructure is installed. In a best case, only the drains need to be covered and pavements built. But that is indeed a rare case. So, in this case, several projects need to be tackled simultaneously but with extensive involvement of government authorities to manage and control public sentiments. which would typically oppose changes and, at least, delay if not halt work altogether.
Therefore, on deeper study, it is apparent that more than technology or funding, the biggest challenge in converting existing cities to “smart cities” would be managing citizens to accept temporary hardships, and maybe some financial losses too, for a much better long term future. This would obviously also required a very firm political will and leadership as well. On the other hand, working on creating a new “city” just might be simpler and faster.
A practical way forward would be to work on converting an existing small city, where the prevailing political mood is supportive besides meeting other criteria of economic activities as outlined earlier, together with developing 2 other locations for “new” smart cities. By the time the existing city is converted, both new cities should also be ready. It would help if at least one of the new cities is near the existing one, as the former would encourage and support the citizens in the existing city facing civic hardships.
This development of “smart cities”, therefore, promises to be challenging yet a very fulfilling activity for the entire nation which can result in a huge change in way of life for all Indians.
COOPERATION WITH CIVIC BODIES
In Mumbai, ALM (area local management) teams of concerned citizens in different wards have been helping / working with civic ward-level bodies to monitor and help implement specific measures. This is an example worth implementing across other municipalities as well. The concerned citizens may be selected out of those already participating in Local Circle at the concerned ward. In smaller cities too this may be the model to be followed. However, participation in the ALM may be limited to – say – 1 year – with provision for other persons to enter the team and for those not participating fully to be replaced. This will help hugely in monitoring, keeping civic workers accountable and active involvement of local citizens in spreading awareness as well as implementing measures that may be seen as “unpopular” to some.
PROBLEM OF OPEN DEFECATION: SHORT TERM – IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS
The problem has already been well recognized. However, solutions will have to be innovative and capable of being implemented in stages for the same to be efficient.
Short / Immediate Solutions:
(1) DMs to identify villages with no facility at all; identify space for locating common toilets separate for men and women, with septic tanks (to be used later for re-cycling); Government to fund construction of Sulabh-type toilets with sufficient capacity for village population in these villages with maintenance responsibilities handled by village panchayat.
(2) Locations with no identifiable water sources to be kept on hold till balance identified are implemented.
(3) For all areas with municipalities, similar work to be completed by concerned commissioner / civic official in charge of sanitation for identification of areas, space for installation and drainage tanks.
(4) Petrol Pumps on (a) highways, to be inspected by task force teams to be formed by DMs for availability and maintenance of toilets on their premises; (b) in municipal areas, by similar task forces to be formed by Municipal Commissioners.
(5) mandatory signage near all toilets in local language + Hindi & English informing toilet location + prohibition/ fines for open defecation / urination.
(6) In large cities, once toilet spaces are identified by municipalities, these may be allotted for BOOT/PPP basis against advertisement rights on the structures constructed, with water recycling provision, on zero license fee / ground rent / municipal taxes for first 5 years, with contract for operation for 10 years.
