Tanvi Baviskar
214141005
IV DCE
SMART CITY
In general, a smart city is a city that uses technology to provide services and solve
city problems. A smart city does things like improve transportation and
accessibility, improve social services, promote sustainability, and give its citizens
a voice.
Though the term “smart cities” is new, the idea isn’t. Ancient Roman cities
actually used elements of the concept, such as using technology to make their
citizens’ lives easier. Aqueducts and water drainage systems are just two ways
they did that.
The main goals of a smart city are to improve policy efficiency, reduce waste and
inconvenience, improve social and economic quality, and maximize social
inclusion.
To understand what a smart city is, it’s important to know that “smart” in this
context doesn’t refer to a characteristic that defines the city, but rather a tool.
“Smart” describes to the city’s ability to create well-being for its citizens.
But it’s not just about how citizens benefit from the services the government
provides to them. A key element of a smart city is valuing citizen participation.
It's centered around the idea that citizens create the city, not the other way round.
Fig 1 Smart city
pg. 1
India’s Smart Cities Mission aims to create 100 smart cities in the country as a
model for development and to bring improvements to nearby cities and towns.
A total of ₹98,000 crores ($15 billion) has been approved by the Indian Cabinet
for the development of 100 smart cities and rejuvenation of 500 others over five
years. Cities are selected through the Smart Cities Challenge, based on
feasibility and potential social and economic impact.
Names of Smart Cities Proposed in India
RANKING
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
NAME OF THE CITIES
NAME OF STATE/UT
Bhubaneshwar
Pune
Jaipur
Surat
Kochi
Ahmedabad
Jabalpur
Visakhapatnam
Solapur
Davangere
Indore
New Delhi
Coimbatore
Kakinada
Belagavi
Udaipur
Guwahati
Chennai
Ludhiana
Bhopal
Odisha
Maharashtra
Rajasthan
Gujarat
Kerala
Gujarat
Madhya Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Maharashtra
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Delhi
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
Rajasthan
Assam
Tamil Nadu
Punjab
Madhya Pradesh
pg. 2
KOCHI – SMART CITY
Fig 2 Smart City Kochi
Kochi, which was previously known as Cochin, is a primary port city of India's
southern coast. In recent times, Kochi is known as ‘SmartCity’ due to several
reasons. The city was also included in the top 20 cities under the Centre’s Smart
Cities Mission project held top 20 cities under the Centre’s Smart Cities
Mission project by the government.
There are several reasons why Kochi received the honor of being known as a
SmartCity.
 One of the leading telecom investment companies, TECOM, has selected
Kochi as their dream project city. The company has already started the
construction of various businesses in the city to build a global network.
 Kochi has a total area of 246 acres, which is ideal to be a smart city. Also,
Kochi is situated on the South-western coast of the country, which
includes a major port to allow the transport of goods.
 The geographical location of Kochi plays a vital role in being developed
as a smart city. The intersection between East-West trade has been crucial
during ancient times.
 With geography comes history. The city's extroverted culture has
attracted several business people around the world to stay in the area and
develop business in the same.
pg. 3
SmartCity Kochi is an integrated business township promoted by Dubai
Holding, a Global Investment Management Company based in the United Arab
Emirates and the Government of Kerala. Creating a network of opportunities,
SmartCity Kochi will be home to knowledge-based businesses that aims to
serve their global clientele from the Indian Subcontinent.
Spread over 246 acre or 1 Million square meter land, SmartCity Kochi will
adhere to international sustainability standards that protect the environment and
provide its inhabitants with comfortable, healthy and productive spaces for
work and leisure.Kochi’s leaders’ smart city vision is: “To transform Kochi into
an inclusive vibrant city of opportunities with efficient urban services,
sustainable growth and ease of living.”
This includes ensuring the city is connected and accessible; promoting smart
mobility; creating a vibrant identity for Kochi; focusing on clean, green and
healthy initiatives; and ensurin g smart, inclusive governance.
The total cost of the smart city transformation is calculated at 207.6 million
Rupees ($3.25 million), and the work is being funded through a mixture of
sources, including 50 million Rupees ($783,500) from the central Ministry of
Urban Development and 57.7 million Rupees ($904,000) from the state smart
city fund. The remainder is through convergence (50.5 million
Rupees/$791,300), as well as public-private partnerships, loans and other
funding (49.4 million Rupees/$774,000). As per all India’s smart cities, the
program will be delivered via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), headed by a fulltime CEO.
Some of the initiatives are focused on specific areas of Kochi, while others are
delivered right across the city.
pg. 4