INTRODUCTION:

Cities are the economic growth centers of a nation. Every year a large number of people are migrating to cities from rural and remote areas in search of jobs, better living conditions, education, health care facilities, transport, entertainment, marriage etc.¹According to Census 2011, nearly 32% of Indian population is residing in cities, creating a challenge for urbanization.² Considering the urbanization as an opportunity for national development, on 25^thJune 2015, the hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi launched an urban renewable program which was named as the Smart City mission. The Ministry of Urban Development will implement the program in collaboration with State governments/Urban Local Bodies.³

Definition:

There is no universal definition of ‘Smart City’. The concept may vary from place to place and nation to nation depending upon their developmental level, resources and citizens willingness for change and reformation. A smart city has basic infrastructure and facilities, use ‘smart’ solutions to make infrastructure and services better, and depends on area based development.

OBJECTIVE:

To promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions.

Elements of core infrastructure:

A smart city core infrastructure elements would include: adequate water and electricity supply, sanitation (solid waste management), efficient transport facilities, housing at an affordable cost for poor population, robust IT connectivity and digitalization, good governance (e-Governance and citizen participation), Environmental sustainability, citizens (women, children and elderly) safety and security, health and education.

Features of Smart City:

A number of comprehensive development features will be adapted to improve the quality of life of people in Smart Cities. It will include efficient land usage, expansion of housing opportunities, creation of non- congested localities, last destination transport connectivity and road development for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Open spaces for parks, playgrounds and recreational activities will reduce heat effects in the urban areas. The development of citizen-friendly governance, cost effective and online services through mobile phones will help to make the feedback more timely and transparent to the people. Cities will be identified on the basis of its economic development in the field of local cuisine, goods, textile, hosiery, furniture, dairy, health, education, culture, arts and craft, sports etc. Application of Smart Solutions will make the infrastructure and services better. For example, construction of disasters resistant areas, resources for providing cheaper services.

Smart Solutions:

An illustrative list of Smart Solutions is given below. Cities may add more smart solutions according to their developmental needs and cost effective utilization of government funds.

1) E-Governance and citizen services:

Public information or Grievance redressal, Citizen engagement, Electronic service delivery system, Video crime monitoring, Citizens- city’s eyes and ears

2) Waste management:

Waste utilization for energy, fueland composting, treatment of waste water, recycling and reduction of waste.

3) Water management:

Smart meters, leakage identification, preventive maintenance, monitoring of water quality

4) Energy management:

Smart meters, utilization of renewable sources, energy efficient and green buildings

5) Urban mobility:

Smart parking facilities, intelligent traffic management and integrated multi-modal transport system

6) Others:

Telemedicine and tele-education, skill development centers, incubation or trade facilitation centers.⁴

Smart city and health solutions:

The smart health solution like telemedicine will help to bring health services within an easy reach of the people as follows-

1) Portable telemedicine diagnostic equipment:

It will help to monitor different vital signs in the human body and transfer all medical data to the doctor's remote destination in short span of time. This system consists of a monitoring device (a touch-screen, strong, compact, highly portable device), the data center (with a router and secondary audit trail activities) and response center (for display).

2) e-Visit solution/Remote ICU:

The e-visit solution consists of remote ICU with patient-side equipment and server applications. Doctors at a remote distant can join a pre-configured video conference session through the ICU with patient-side equipment and a web browser. The technology is based on advanced imaging technique, software technology and video conferencing. It can effectively monitor a larger group of intensive care patients. The patient can consult with on-site health care providers whenever necessary.

3) Online applications:

The innovative personalized applications (e.g. My Health Assist TM from Mindteck) are the smart home healthcare solution. This application will be beneficial for patients with chronic diseases, postoperative patients and elderly.

This application will help them as -

· Following personalized medication schedule

· Self-check

· Reporting of the vital health parameters

· Ordering prescribed medications to pharmacy

· Ordering laboratory investigations

· Seek timely assistance from healthcare provider from their homes.⁵

4) Other Solutions:

· Schedule appointments

· Patient registration

· Panic button

· Medicine reminder

· Blood bank management

· Antenatal and post natal services

· Mother and child tracking

· Vaccine cue

· Patient Feed Back

· Follow-up services⁶

Smart Cities Mission- Coverage and Duration:

The Mission will cover 100 cities with minimum one in each State/UT, 13 in UP, 12 in Tamil Nadu, and 10 in Maharashtra based on urban population and number of statuary towns. The mission duration for coverage will be of 5 financial years (2015-16 to 2019-20).

Smart Cities Mission-Strategy:

The strategy is based on area based development models. Its components are-

1) Retrofitting ( city improvement):

It is thedevelopment of an existing built area (>500 acres) to achieve the smart cities mission objectives to make it more liveable and efficient e.g. Development of the Local Area (Ahmedabad)

2) Redevelopment (city renewal):

It is the replacement of an existing built-up environment (>50 acres) and co-creation of a new layout with an enhanced infrastructure, using mixed land and increased density e.g. East Kidwai Nagar (New Delhi),Bhendi Bazar (Mumbai)

3) Greenfield (city extension):

It is thedevelopment of a previously vacant area (> 250 acres) using innovative planning, financing and plan implementation tools with provision for housing at an affordable cost for poor population e.g. GIFT City in Gujarat.

4) Pan-city development:

It is the application of selected Smart Solutions (by use of technology, information and data) to the existing city-wide infrastructure. For example, intelligent traffic management system, waste water recycling and smart metering.

5) For North Eastern and Himalayan States:

The proposed area for development will be one-half of what is prescribed for any of the alternative models mentioned above for city improvement, renewal or extension.

Smart City Proposal (SCP) and Funding:

No particular model is prescribed by government for smart cities. It is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Due to diverse characteristics, each city has to construct its own idea, vision and plan (proposal) of a Smart City as per its local needs, resource availability and people’s ambition levels. The Smart City Mission is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) financially supported by Central Government. For the SCP, 100 shortlisted cities will be provided financial assistance of Rs. 2 crore. In each city Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will plan and operate the mission. A full time CEO will be the head of SPV. Central Government will provide Rs. 48,000 crore in 100 cities across the country for 5 years. Each Smart city will get Rs. 100 crore for 5 years. Keeping in mind 50:50 funding pattern, State Governments / ULBs will mobilize extra resources amount of Rs. 48,000 crore.

Mission monitoring:

At National level:

Apex Committee (AC)

At State level:

State level High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC)

City Level:

CEO (SPV) is the convener of Smart City Advisory Forum.

Challenges:

This is the first time, when the Ministry of Urban Development program is using the ‘Challenge’ or competition method for the selection of aspirant cities for funding. This captures the spirit of ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’. States and Urban Local Bodies ability for leadership and decisive action, understanding of the concepts of area based development models by policy makers, estimates of investments in time and resources should be taken into consideration before participation in the Challenge. Citizen active involvement in governance and reforms is a key to the success of the Smart Cities Mission. The citizen’s participation has to start from beginning to the end of mission.⁴

CONCLUSION:

Urbanization should be considered as valuable asset for economic development rather than social crisis. Smart cities solutions will help to meet the need of demanding situation through providing a better quality of lifestyle and growth opportunities.

REFERENCES:

1. N, Lohiya A, Nongkynrih B, Gupta SK. Migrants to Urban India: Need for Public Health Action [Internet]. Indian Journal of Community Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. Medknow Publications and Media Pvt Ltd; 2014 [cited 2017Feb16]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4067932/

2. Park K. Parks text book of Preventive and Social Medicine. 23rd edition: M/s BanarsidasBhanot: 2015.p. 484-485

3. Government of India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Press Information Bureau. [Internet] 2015 Jun [cited 2017 Feb 2] Available from:http://pib.nic.in/newsite/Print Release.aspx?relid=122788

4. Government of India. Ministry of Urban Development. Smart Cities Mission Statement and Guidelines. [Internet] 2015 Jun [cited 2017 Feb 2] Available from:http://smartcities.gov.in/writereaddata/SmartCityGuidelines.pdf

5. Smart City Solutions [Internet] [cited 2017 Feb 5] Available from: http://www.mindteck.com/smartcity-solutions

6. Solutions for Smart City [Internet]. Spice Digital. 2930 [cited 2017Feb15].Available from: http://www.spicedigital.in/ solution-for-smart-city/

Received on 16.02.2017 Accepted on 08.06.2017

Int. J. Tech. 2017; 7(1): 79-82.

DOI:10.5958/2231-3915.2017.00013.X