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IT will Hold Success for PM’s Smart Cities Dream

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launchedSmart Cities proposal to revolutionize the way urban people live today. A total of Rs..98,000 crore has been approved by the Cabinet for development of 100 smart cities and rejuvenation of 500 others. For Smart Cities Mission, Rs. 48,000 crore and for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), a total funding of Rs. 50,000 crore has been approved by the Cabinet. But the vision of 100 Smart Cities can’t be thought without role of ICT. The global tech companies have already geared up to come up with their innovative solutions to grab the enormous opportunity in coming years while building smart cities. We as an IT publication would like to educate our partners in understanding the concept ofsmart cities and the opportunities it has brought for the industry. DT spoke to many industry leaders to evaluate upcoming opportunities in this project for IT.

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Cover Story Buzz around Smart Cities Urbanisation has huge challenge to cater the people’s need who come to city for better life and opportunity. Smart Cities will surly boost the living of people. According to Rajshekhar Bhatt, Country Manager, ECS, “I am very glad that Indian Governmenthas announcedto build 100 smart cities across India. As for any growing economy more & more people are moving to bigger cities & Town for better income & lifestyle which is resulting into heavy density of population in Urban India.Keeping this in mind concept of Smart Cities was introduced under different names in different countries. Whole idea is to reduce traveling time, reduce expense, a n d provide better quality of life for self & family. It also brings finally safer & happy place to live for all citizen of India.”

The plan of 100 smart cities will provide better facilities for people. “In India, the urban population is currently 31% of the total population and it contributes over 60% of India’s GDP. It is projected that urban India will contribute nearly 75% of the national GDP in the next 15 years. The smart cities should be able to provide good infrastructure such as water, sanitation, reliable utility services and health care.

It also attracts investments and transparent processes that make it easy to run commercial activities. This program will definitely enhance the lifestyles and the way things are done bringing in efficiency,” says, JagannathPatnaik, CEO, NNR IT Solutions.

Some of us also believe that it will not only boost the living standard but will give maximum opportunity to utilise the available resources. Vikram Kalia, Director Sales & Marketing, Adit Infratel, says, “Smart Cities is a revolutionary measure that we need to look forward to. It will not only help us in upgrading our lifestyle but will also help in optimum utilisation of the available resources and regenerating the resources.

My vision for a smart city is categorised in segments and once all these segments are effectively upgraded then the same can be interlinked to give way for a smart city concept.”

Smart cities vision is an excellent option to boost the economy and bring in growth in the country. “With most of the Indian cities lagging behind in terms of basic amenities like sewerage, transport, electricity, infrastructure – implementation of smart cities project can entirely change the landscape of urban India. To put in simple words, smart city is nothing but integrating various resources for the development and help the citizen get the best of the resources the city has to offer, of course with the help of technology, “says, Richard Tan, MD & Director, ADATA Technology India Pvt Ltd. After many decades of wishful thinking and occasional false starts, it seems the time for smart cities has well and

truly arrived. Subhasish Gupta, Country Manager – India & SAARC at Allied Telesis says, “Digital technologies supported by the connectivity that comes from a reliable, fast infrastructure will e n a b l e government planners to create more efficient, more sustainable and secure urban environments.”

G o p a l Pa n s a r i , D i r e c t o r at Savera Marketing Agency Pvt Ltd, states “In Smart Cities we will see more and more use of digital technology which will help in the reduction in cost and resource consumption but will allow you to get same output as much you were getting earlier, which means in limited resources you will get better output without any wastage of available sources. We can expect better security, hygienic environment, better mobility or transport and much more.”

The continuous escalation of urban population steers the necessity for more efficient asset and resource management to ensure luxury living to citizens.Govind Rammurthy, MD & CEO at eScan, says,“A Smart City is where Digital Technologies or Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are applies to enhance the quality and performance of urban services, cost reduction and consumption of resources and more effective and active engagement with its citizens. Government services, transport and traffic management, energy, health care, water and waste management sectors have been developing smart cities. Thus it responds to all the challenges than just a ‘transactional’ relationship with its citizens.”

ICT Remains Backbone We all believe that Smart Cities can’t be even imagined without ICT. Smart brings all innovation and advancement technology solution with itself. “I think it is ICT only that has to play a crucial role in building smart cities. These are the technology oriented segment and new developments are happening very fast in ICT. So I believe new R&D needs to be done on the operation and integration of the various technologies to give us sustainable results. This can happen through ICT only,” says Vikram.

According to Subhasish, “ICT will play a key role in creating 100 smart cities. Building ICT Infrastructures is required for better connectivity, sustainability and security for building smart cities. The

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Cover Story Global tech vendors like Cisco, smart city movement is changing all HP, IBM, Hitachi Data Systems and this. Instead of focusing solely on Avaya, are already eyeing the smart connections within the enterprise, city opportunity in India. As per the digital technologies are being used market research firm IDC estimates to build networks that a minimum of Rs 2,000 crores connect government flowing into the technology organizations sector on the back of the with road, rail, 'smart cities' initiative. emergency "Smart cities will and other attract investments infrastructure across all layers of services across ICT. Cities and their the urban private-sector partners landscape.” will invest in all layers “For any major of ICT infrastructure breakthrough or in order to realize 360 degree change Smart City initiatives.

ICT is & will be In particular, hotspots for playing a key role. Under this program both Gopal Pansari, Director, growth will be technology consulting, networking, Hardware & Software Savera Marketing telecommunications, and side of ICT business other hardware infrastructure, will work together to make it happen middleware, sector-specific or may say Make Dream Come True,” applications, telecom and managed adds Rajshekhar. services, and systems integration," With smart cities, government need to said Manish Bahl, vice president and improve the housing, infrastructure, country manager- India, Forrester transportation, energy, employment, Research. healthcare and education sector so Typically a Smart City would that they can provide better life style mean use of Internet of Things and living standard to the people who (IoT) technologies, use of various IT are going to live in those cities. Gopal systems to make things much smarter. further adds, “And to achieve these According to Gartner Analyst Ganesh thing governments need to rely on Ramamoorthy, "Getting that last ICT, things like Internet of Things mile connectivity and getting things (IoT), Big Data, social media and Cloud fully automated is going to be the Computing will play a very important most important aspect of labelling a role for the development of these city smart." Transportation, energy cities.” utilities, buildings, and security are “IT and communications technology some of the aspects that need to be will be a key component to build smarter and driven by technology and smart cities. Smart cities will use IT automated processes. to improve the quality of life of its The emergence of the Internet of citizens by providing citizen services Things and application of this within over communication networks.

Smart Cities is creating a large range It will also address fundamental issues of opportunities for organizations. like consultation and planning, accurate “Working with planners, developers and informed Decision making, and government there are almost enablement of key process, deployment, limitless applications for technology Distribution and Governance, in Smart Cities from intelligent transformation and control critical infrastructure that enables more agents through the process of efficient use of resources for the city transformation. It will help bring to smart home technology that enables together technology, information and more efficient resource usage within political vision for urban development the home for the consumer,” asserted and service improvement,” added by

by Subhashish Jagannath For IT Security vendors, its great opportunity as Government will definitely raise its investment for Securing the Smart City. “The project will generate enormous amount of data and government need to ensure the safety of this data if they need to make

Business opportunities for IT sector

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the project successful. If IT security not taken seriously for bigger projects like smart cities it will become a big avenues for cybercriminals to earn big cash or financial gain. For general IT resellers and service providers this project will provide huge opportunity in providing IT infra and service,” informs Jagannath.

According to Subhashish, the emergence of the Internet of Things and application of this within Smart Cities is creating a large range of opportunities for organizations.

He adds, “Working with planners, developers and government there are almost limitless applications for technology in Smart Cities from intelligent infrastructure that enables more efficient use of resources for the city to smart home technology that enables more efficient resource usage within the home for the consumer.”

The leading partners in the industry believe that there is huge opportunity for entire community. Gopal adds, “Smart City is that thing which can’t be achieved with just one player, here government needs to join hands with several players who are expert in their segments. It’s first such project which government is going to implement so we also have a huge opportunity to provide better solution. In other way we will serve our country and take countries infrastructure to next level.”

Major Challenges

Vikram Kalia, Director Sales & Marketing, Adit Infratel

A

s the program has an immense opportunity, it also open up various challenges while materialising this as reality. Pointing some of the challenges, Richard

Cover Story government programs informs, “The major challenge that the government will first face is that of which run through cooperation from the work force, as they may see this as a threat to their very own existence as there may be some pruning on the work force corruption at due to use of technology. Secondly participation and each level of cooperation from the general implementation. masses could also hamper Rajshekhar implementation.

Thirdly confirms, “All since smart city would use polices looks a lot many ICT devices, its great on paper maintenance and making butred tape, it run flawlessly would be corruption, another challenge for the implementation authorities.” is always been Solutions and products are an issue. I guess already in the market which comes transparency and Mr.Govind Rammurthy, with certain cost. So analysis of sharing of all info cost benefit is other big challenge. CEO & MD, eScan about right policy to “Creating a structure is a cost and the common man may rectify certain loop hole.”

Subhasish G u p t a , benefits cannot be seen immediately. It is a One of the biggest challenges in Country Manager – India & process of upgrading your living to a better SAARC at Allied Telesis environment. Most of the things are in the building smart cities is to select the hands of the policy makers. Just by making cities which will be converted into some duty cuts, the products that are required for smart cities can be manufactured smart cities. “Government need to make at affordable price,” adds, Vikram. simple and straight plan which will help The concept of Smart Cities is easy to apply to a new city or development but is state to select cities from their region. far more difficult to apply to established cities. Adding further, Subhashish says, “as Another challenge which government a result of this, cities will have varying degrees of ‘smarts’ depending on the ease might face is to complete all things or difficulty of deployment and the benefits over time that are likely to be achieved. on time, making cities smarter is a For policy-makers, it is important that the cost of deployment of technology is big project and it require government seen as an investment that will deliver benefits over time instead of a straight-out to join hands with several companies, expense.” and maintaining coordination among One of the major concerns for this project is very common like any other all of them is another big task in it,” concludes Gopal.

Conclusion

T

he entire thing looks very exciting with so huge opportunities. As a vendor, we need to be quick to offer advanced and secured solution at an affordable price in the making of 100 smart cities. There are also huge competitions as giant players are lined up to bag all these projects with their expertise in this domain.

As a partner we may work to offer and deploy all those required solutions. We need to

stay aware about the opportunity which vendors are bringing in the market. So gear up and associate yourself with your vendors to become part of this big ticket project.

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