Smart cities – Leading India’s Digital Transformation
Big problems need smart solutions. In India, there were about 148,000 road deaths in 2015, something that needs to be addressed. Around 32.1 lakh people could die in road accidents from 2016 till 2030, according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). The opportunity was there to do something dramatic about it, since 15 percent of these road deaths could immediately be prevented through faster response time.
And that’s where technology can play its part by implementing mechanisms to improve traffic flow and alert emergency services faster. Make cities smarter and we can see a highly positive impact on people’s lives through improved services, activities, utilities, processes and procedures.
Cities have evolved from being clusters of people staying together for safety reasons, to becoming thriving centers of business and commerce. After the industrial revolution, the cities became all about trade and today the world’s biggest cities are about business. Along with this, came a need to provide support and services to the people living in the cities and empowering the trade. So, we come to cities 2.0, or rather a smart city.
A smart city takes the traditional city model and makes it about the quality of life for its residents living there. The cities of the future are not just about trade and commerce but improving people’s way of life is central to this new model. And here, digital solutions are the essential enablers.
In my own country, India, there is now a government initiative in place to establish 100 smart cities around the country, powered by IT and delivering next generation services, processes and ways of living to residents and companies. They are also designed to attract investments, encouraging global multinational corporations (MNCs) to set up operations there. With government investment to the tune of $1.2 billion, smart cities are the future for the burgeoning urban population predicted to reach 800 million by 2050. Delivering on this vision requires the right digital solutions and tools though. Whether talking about public safety, education, health or other essential public services; they are all enhanced by digital solutions. There are already simple technological tools in place such as location-based services, but these will grow and evolve to deliver far more to inhabitants.
Better Services, Better for All
Smart city projects are helping transform today’s cities into the cities of tomorrow – and one way they are doing this is by maximizing resources.
