SmartCity Kochi Infrastructure plans to launch two more smart cities in India, which would go beyond installing CCTV cameras or Wi-Fi hotspots.

Gigo Joseph, CEO, SmartCity Kochi, told BusinessLine that it plans to come out with a smart city initiative in Madhya Pradesh and is close to finalising the second one. These moves come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced his plans to make ‘100 Smart Cities’ in India, which would have the latest communication technologies.

However, there are concerns in some sections regarding the fact that just implementing technologies is not the way a 'smart city' would work. “That is the reason why we are looking at three aspects such as helping the local economy, environmental sustainability and social cohesiveness as pre requisites of a ‘smart city’.

In this regard, Nasscom is talking to stakeholders and is in the process of defining a ‘smart city’ and once it decides on a definition will take it up the Centre.

RS Sharma, Secretary of DeitY, pointed out to delegates gathered at the Nasscom summit that the Centre is working on a timeframe for the Digital India plan.

‘Smart city’ solutions He, however, did not mention the specifics but added that private companies offering ‘smart city’ solutions will be selected in a transparent manner and the Centre will also look to build solutions with the industry.

Industry watchers point out that as the metros are getting congested that the country desperately needs new cities.

This coupled with rapid urbanisation is expected to increase population in urban cities to go up to 36 per cent by 2026, totalling close to 600 million people. Some initiatives have already kicked off that are looking at sustainability aspects of ‘smart cities’.

IEEE Smart Village, an IEEE Foundation Signature Program, has helped Himalayan boarding school enable children from remote, off-grid communities of Ladakh to develop an interest in renewable technologies.

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