Smart city programme to transform urban landscape

 The government's smart city programme will lead to urban transformation and also help in economic growth, Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba said. He said that smart technologies should be incorporated in existing cities.

Launched on June 25, 2015, the Smart Cities Mission aims to develop 100 smart cities across the country in a five-year period. The government has earmarked Rs 48,000 crore for the development of these cities.

"The Smart Cities Mission has come to represent urban transformation and it's very interesting to see the kind of ground work being undertaken. The idea of smart cities would no doubt boost business, and the economy of the country," Gauba was quoted as saying by Exhibitions India Group.

The secretary was addressing 'One Mega Event' here which has brough five expos - Buildings India 2017 expo, Solar India 2017 expo, Transport India 2017 expo, Smart Cities India 2017 expo and Water India 2017 expo - under one roof.

Over 400 global exhibitors from around 40 countries are participating in this exhibition.

"Smart cities doesn't essentially mean new cities, or added infrastructure, but incorporating smart technologies for the current cities. State governments and cities have now realised that they need to be more liberal," Gauba said. Oracle's Global CEO Safra A Catz said the Internet of Things, big data and analytics are being harnessed to drive best solutions.

"Today, many global cities are mega cities with a population of over 10 million, and in those cities digitisation is the only way forward to match with the pace of movement," she said. Netherland and Taiwan offered smart solutions for India's smart cities programme.