ASSIGNMENT

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY

Submitted by
Fathima Saniya
23/GEO/18

Submitted to
Prof. Shubham Kumar

SMART CITY
“Smart cities do not mean creating jungles of concretes or sophisticated cities of
glasses with HiFi technologies. But a smart city means a city, where humans,
trees, birds and other animals can grow with all their glories, imperfections,
freedom and creativity.’’
Amit Ray

A smart city is a city which promotes sustainability and inclusivity.It possesses

core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens with clean and
and sustainable environment . A city by being smart applies smart solutions using
information and communication technology for all the problems which arise within
a city. Moreover the concept of smart city is a building block for digital
governance or E- governance by improving operational efficiency and sharing
information with the public and provide a better quality of government service and
citizens welfare.

Core infrastructural elements in a smart city includes adequate water supply,

assured electricity supply, sanitation, solid waste management, efficient urban
mobility and public transport, affordable housing especially for the poor, robust IT
connectivity and digitization.Smart city focusses specially on citizen
participation,sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens particularly
women, children and the elderly. Smart city initiatives have gained significant
attention worldwide as urban areas seek innovative solutions to address various
challenges.

SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF A SMART CITY

• Livable city – by providing a diverse range of housing, educational and
recreational opportunities and enhancing heritage conservation.
• Sustainable and eco city- by co-existing in harmony with nature for
nurturing a resilient, clean, green and healthy environment.
• Child Friendly city- by providing safe and accessible public spaces
• Transit oriented city – by promoting a compact urban form that
encourages active, connected and sustainable mobility choices
• Responsive governance- participatory decision making and citizen
engagement
• Regional economic centre- by encouraging knowledge –based
enterprises, start-ups and sustainable tourism

These elements can be realized through five integrated strategic pillars such
as responsive governance, TOD based planning and design, fiscal
sustainability , infrastructure and socio – economic development.

SMART CITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

GOALS

SDG 11 : Sustainable cities and communities Make

cities and human settlements inclusive , safe , resilient and sustainable.

Infact, the concept of smart city is vital to realise almost every sustainable
development goals. However, it specifically revolves around SDG 11 in the
light of challenges in cities such as inequality, energy crisis, pollution ,
climate change, natural and man made disasters , urban sprawl , slum and
squattered settlement, limited open public spaces etc...

CASE STUDY
 Developed cities are in forefront of transforming their cities into smart and
sustainable. Cities such as New york , seoul, oslo, boston,singapore,london,
bologna are smart cities which ensures quality life of citizens with efficient
technology. This case study is based on singapore city which is a lighthouse
to other aspiring cities.

SINGAPORE CITY

Singapore is the smartest city in the world, according to the IMDs inaugural
smart city index. Singapore being an icon of smart city uses sensors and AI
to collect data on traffic volume or pedestrian activity to control traffic and
avoid accidents. It provides 5G connectivity to the entire city.And it has
many smart city programmes and missions that explore new technology and
approach to make the city smarter and safer. It has a cycle mobility plan, an
air quality plan,and a plan for culture and creativity.To make citizen friendly
governance it uses apps for citizens to receive parking information, report
service issues, or communication with each other.

It has advanced e-governance systems, public transportation, and air quality

filters.Uses sensors to control lightning, heating and cooling.It uses smart
sensors to monitor water usage, trash levels, and air quality.Following are
some of the important initiatives ,

• DIGITIZATION OF HEALTHCARE : Its e-health initiative is a

comprehensive digital platform that aims to improve the quality and
accessibilty of healthcare services. It involves various stakeholders in
the healthcare industry , including healthcare providers, technology
companies and patients.

Some of the key components of e-health platform

• Healthhub: it is an online portal that allows patients to manage their health
and wellness.It provides features such as appointment booking,prescription
refills,and access to medical records.
• Telemedicine: it enables patients to consult with doctors remotely through
video conferencing or messaging.
• TeleRehab: it allows patients to undergo exercises in their own home –
wearable Internet of Things devices , monitor patients progress and transmit
the data to their therapist over a wireless network.
• Robotics helps to reduce loneliness in an aging population.The AI powered
SmartELderly Alert system monitors and learns peoples regular movements,
alerting a caregiver when something out of the ordinary occurs and urgent
care might be required.

• SMART NATION APP : This app is designed to simplify and

streamline the way citizens interact with the government , making it
easier and more convenient to access important services and
information.

Some of the features of smart nation app

• Digital identity: creation of digital identity can be used to access a

range of government services, such as applying for permits and
licenses.
• Government Services: The app provides access to wide range of
government services, including payment of fines, renewal of
passports, and booking of government facilities.
• Feedback and Reporting; The app allows citizens to provide
feedback and report issues such as broken public facilities or
incidents of littering.
• Emergency information ; The app provides real time updates on
emergencies and incidents happening in the users area, such as
traffic accidents or natural disasters.
 • TRAVEL SMART PROGRAMME: It aims to evenly distribute morning
peak hour travel demand on the rail network in three ways :
encouraging citizens to re-think

When they travel

How they travel( for example, switching to public transport and
bicycles)
Reducing the amount they travel( encouraging working remotely).

The country has implemented a unified QR CODE PAYMENT SYSTEM

which simplifies payments for merchants and consumers by combining
multiple QR codes into a single SGQR label.The SGQR label has replaced
around 19,000 QR codes.Thr singapore is also turning into driverless cars
innovation. And Autonomous Vehicle Rules narrowed down the number of
private vehicle owners. It helped in fixing the congestion and air pollution.
The main reason for the successful implementation of smart city
programmes in singapore is the close collaboration between the public and
private sectors . Many smart city solutions have originated in the private
sector, but were tested in the public sector.If the solutions turned out to be
successful during the testing rounds, the public sector rolled them out across
the city.

Special to Singapore’s smart city plan is the fact that the government is not
embracing it as an efficiency campaign , but as an interdisciplinary exercise.
Singapore’s idea of becoming a smart city is a way to look at the quality of
life in the city, economic growth and human development.

SMART CITIES IN INDIA

Developing smart cities in India is vital to address the challenges in cities
such as urban sprawl, pollution,crime,development of slum, urban heat
 island etc... First stride that India had made towards smart cities
development was the launching of smart cities mission on June 25 , 2015.

SMART CITIES MISSION

This mission was a step towards smart India by transforming indian cities
smart,sustainable and inclusive.This mission has been trying its best to
realize sustainable development goals.The ministry of urban development
has identified 24 key areas that cities must address in their ‘smart cities’plan.
Of these 24 key areas, 3 are directly related to water and 7 are indirectly
related to water – Smart-metre management, leakage identification,
preventive maintenance, and water quality modeling.Utilization of
Information and communication technology has become the core of
enhancing the city’s liveability, workability and sustainability.This mission
focusses on reducing congestion,ensuring security,reducing air
pollution,promote interaction and local economy etc..

This mission aimed to create 100 smart cities.As of September 2024, 17 out
of 100 smart cities in India have completed all of their projects under the Smart
Cities Mission. .This mission is an urban renewal program that aims to make
cities more sustainable and citizen- friendly. This mission includes :
• Area-based development: This includes redevelopment, retrofitting, and
greenfield projects.
• Pan-city solutions: These include e-governance, waste management, water
management, energy management, urban mobility, and skill development.
• Public-private partnerships: The mission encourages public-private partnerships
to drive the project forward.
This mission has considered following six components as pillars of a smart city.
They are:
• Smart governance
• Smart economy
• Smart environment
• Smart mobility
 • Smart living
• Smart people

It is crucial to know whether this mission has been successful or not

considering the present condition of Indian cities.This mission was socially
desirable, environmentally sustainable and judicially tenable.However, it has
failed in many aspects. It was failed to gain Political acceptance and drive.

It was technologically feasible only in some cities such as Indore and

Jamshedpur.Moreover , lack of financial viability became a major hindrance
for its success.Failure of effective public –private participation and failure of
states and UTs to release share of funds for smart cities made this mission
financially or economically inviable, thereby the pillar smart economy has
reached at stake. Administratively it was not completely doable. Because it
failed to achieve equality among different sections of the society. Infact, it has
failed to enhance the quality of the citizens life. By and large smart cities
mission is considered a failure.

WILL DHOLERA BECOME SHANGHAI OF INDIA ?

Dholera, a greenfield industrial smart city in Gujarat is expected to be six times larger
than Shanghai and twice the size of Mumbai. Dholera smart city project aims to establish a
world-class urban center that seamlessly integrates technology,infrastructure and
sustainable practices.It is a flagship project of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial corridor which
holds immense potential for the future of urban planning in India. Creation of
vibrant,sustainable and technologically advanced urban hub that will serve as a model for
future smart cities in India and around the world are the key visions of Dholera smart city
project.

Some key features of Dholera city

 • It is set to offer world class amenities such as healthcare facilities, educational
institutions,recreational areas and commercial spaces.
• The city promotes sustainable mobility with an integrated transportation sysytem.
Dholera will have a comprehensive network of roads, a Bus Rapid Transit system
and even plans for an international airport in the vicinity.
• The city is designed to be an economic powerhouse. It will host a diverse range of
industries,including manufacturing,logistics,and IT ,thereby creating numerous
employment opportunities for both Indians and Foreigners.
• This city places a strong emphasis on technology and innovation. It plans to
integrate the Internet of Things( IoT) , smart grids and digital infrastructure to
enhance the quality of life for its residents.
• Dholera city is committed to sustainable development.The city incorporates green
building practices,renewable energy sources and wastewater management
systems.Its goal is to reduce its environmental impact and create a healthier and
more liveable environment.
• Infrastructure of Dholera is mind blowing, with world class facilities and
connectivity. The location of the city is very strategic and well connected to major
cities like Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar and Vadodara.
• Its amazing development has attracted significant investment from both domestic
and international investors.It offers a plethora of opportunities for
investors,developers and entrepreneurs .

Despite all these glories there are some challenges such as land acquisition, infrastructure
development and the need for substantial investments.Neverthless, Dholera is a symbol
of India’s commitment to sustainable and innovative urban development.It embodies the
nations vision of a smarter, greener, and technologically advanced future.As the city
continues to grow, it holds the promise of becoming a model for urban development not
just in India but on the global stage, showcasing how cities can be more than just concrete
jungles but truly smart and sustainable spaces for generations to come.

The digital transformation of municipalities and cities and making the cities smarter and
sustainable is the decisive building block for future development in India and other
countries.It makes it possible to increase the quality of life , achieve locational advantages
and master the societal challenges in a sociological, economic and ecological triad. It is
said that smart cities are not build with bricks and mortar but with data and innovation.
Data and information are valuable assets for smart cities. This need requires a systematic
governance of data and information and the goal should be strategic to take into account
the needs and interests of all stakeholders – from residents , policymakers and
administrators. The true value of a smart city lies in its ability to foster
innovation,sustainability and inclusivity ,while enhancing the well being of its
citizens.Smart cities are vital to address all the challenges cities are facing today and in the
future . And their significance is paramount in terms of realising sustaianable development
goals.