Smart Cities - Present & Future

Smart City is a term that most of us have heard quite frequently over the last few years.

The Indian government is on a mission to transform many of the existing metro cities into smart cities or even develop many others to completely revolutionize the country's urban spaces.

The 100 Smart Cities Mission launched by our Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an initiative, as the name suggests, to develop 100 smart cities across the Indian states, and thereby inspire other nearby towns as well as rural regions, to transcend into the next level of habitable spaces.

But before exploring further on this, let's understand in detail,

What is a Smart City?

A Smart City is a transformative urban space incorporating technology and information to develop the infrastructure and enhance daily operational efficiency.

Smart Cities also give great importance to the environment and green spaces. The greenfield cities are a variant of smart cities. These cities will also use extensive communication technology in public transportation manufacturing industries to reduce the use of resources for a sustainable future.

These cities will also have the next level of public infrastructure, and hygiene will play a great part.

Smart City Technology

The major technologies that will be incorporated in Smart Cities are:

• Cloud Computing
• Mesh Networking
• User-Friendly Apps integrated with Public Amenities
• UI Based Interfaces (ATM Counters, Bill Payments, Ticket Counters, etc.)
• Transportation (Metros, Bus Transit, Taxi Services)
• IoT

All these technologies will be used to enhance the living standards of the general public, covering almost all of the elements involved in an urbanscape. Perhaps the smart city initiatives can be summarised simply as a better management system through the use of technology for making lives easier and more comfortable.

There are many examples for this; for instance imagine a citizen right from getting easily to their workspaces without the traffic hindering him/her to easily finding the next parking space and getting documentation done with the least effort from the governmental offices, etc

Smart City - The First Step

Urban Planning is the first step to the creation of any Smart City. Infact it is urban planning that made sure that our civilization proceeded to the next level and prompted us to evolve as a society.

The idea of Smart Cities has been prevalent from the early 1950s to the 1960s - the era of newfound peace and stability after the world wars. Ever since then, all the major global cities have more or less taken an approach to bring in the sense of quality living for their denizens.

Importance of Smart Cities

As mentioned earlier, the whole concept of Smart City is to incorporate Smart Life for the general populace, thereby ultimately eradicating the elements of discord to provide sustainability to the masses and future. If the populace is at peace and has the basics taken care of, they shall direct their focus onto more important things that shall help the human race to its advancement.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness are the ultimate aims of the present Smart Cities, whereas Future Smart Cities are expected to take this up a notch and bring forth complete harmony between the digital and physical worlds.

Smart Cities in The World

Here are some of the most popular planned Smart Cities in the World:

1. NEOM

NEOM City in Saudi Arabia is perhaps the most famous upcoming smart city in the world. With an estimated cost of over 500 Billion dollars, it is said to be the ultimate realization of our time's smart cities. It has also been in the news recently as the linear city shall also incorporate within it the tenets of Metaverse, thereby building what a completely futuristic blend of virtual and real living spaces is. Right from Digital Jurisdiction, Healthcare, and other features, this highly anticipated wonderland.

2. New York

Already known as one of the greatest cities in the world, New York has adopted various urban planning developments from a long time back. Now the LinkNYC is one of their major features, which provide an all in all digital space for the populace like free wifi spots, device charging stations, digital maps, kiosks, etc.

3. Singapore

More than Smart City, the Singapore Government vies to bring a Smart Nation that completely revolutionizes the entire urban structures, from combining physical infrastructures to the big data networks to form the next level city-state that is the stuff of dreams.

4. Dublin

Dublin, Ireland, is referred to as the unexpected capital of Smart Cities! Administered by the Smart Dublin program, the project is considered to be one of the finest in bringing both technology and everyday life closer.

5. Madrid

Madrid is Spain's contender for Smart Cities around the world. The MiNT Madrid Inteligente/Smarter Madrid platform is one of the key features of the program that has made the city into a bustling network of human activity and big data for easier lifestyle across. From Recycling to the Management of Green spaces, Madrid is definitely a great example for the smart cities around the world to adopt more sustainable features.

Smart City Project(Smart City Mission)

Smart City Mission or Smart City Project is a mission initiated by the Government of India in order to create sustainable and citizen-friendly urban living. This mission was undertaken to accomplish the urban renewal and furnishing of the major cities across the country.

The Smart City Mission was launched in the year of 2015 with Kunal Kumar as the Mission Director. The mission was set between 2019 to 2023. Still undergoing the mission will enhance sustainable living and efficient connectivity and help improve the overall infrastructure of the Smart Cities in India.

Smart Cities in India

As mentioned above, under the 100 Smart Cities program, the Government of India will be focusing on developing these cities within the next few years, transforming them into the torchbearers of modern India.

Here are some of the popular cities in India nominated for Smart Cities Challenge:

1. New Delhi

2. Bangalore

3. Hyderabad

4. Mumbai

5. Chennai

6. Kochi

7. Amaravati

8. Jaipur

9. Thiruvananthapuram

10. Mangalore

11. Port Blair

12. Panaji

13. Agartala

14. Chandigarh

15. Ahmedabad

16. Indore - "Best Smart City" in India

17. Lucknow

18. Amritsar

19. Dharamshala

20. Raipur

21. Shillong

22. Kohima

23. Srinagar

24. Coimbatore

25. Warangal

So folks, how did you like our article on Smart Cities in India and the World? Give your opinion in the comment section below.