smart city

Two years back, Bhopal’s automated bicycle sharing programme was launched amid much fanfare as one of its smart city projects. However, the scheme has seen lukewarm response at best and the factors behind this need careful attention.

Extreme heat stress caused by high ‘wet bulb temperatures’ and urban heat island effect come into play in Odisha’s capital, that is often the hottest city in the country during summers. But what do these terms imply, and how are they a threat to the upcoming smart city?

Over a hundred shops belonging to small traders and even some homes have been demolished in Aligarh with little prior warning and no compensation, as smart city protocols were initiated in the ciity with zero or minimal planning.

Three-time MP Pralhad Joshi is BJP’s candidate again in Dharwad parliamentary constituency. His main opponent is Vinay Kulkarni of Congress, a former MLA and minister in Siddaramaiah government.

Bhubaneswar was not just the government’s first choice for its Smart Cities Mission, but has also featured in the list of top 20 global smart cities. But it has seen a number of setbacks recently. On safety, health, mobility, employment, how ‘smart’ is Bhubaneswar?

As in many other cities in India, extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and intolerable temperatures are becoming an annual event in Bhubaneswar too. One can no longer ignore the urgent need for climate-smart urban planning.

The Centre has been actively promoting municipal bonds as a source to fund development of cities, but those with lower credit ratings may not find it a very smooth option to raise money through the same.

Most cities have suffered because of CEOs who keep changing or have additional responsibilities and charges that make it difficult to focus exclusively on the Smart City projects.

Smart cities need a vision. But perhaps more importantly, they need people who are able to draft that and take it to fruition.