Indian perspective of smart cities and their sustainable growth

Abstract

Ambiguity for the term smart city has led to intensive research in this area for providing a justifiable definition which includes all its aspects. One finds that the acceptance of Internet of Things (IOT) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) playing a major role in facilitating the cities for better utilisation of their available resources, is a universal truth. Cities extensively use the technology in almost any activity which can make them smart. According to the World Bank, India continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world and predicts it to be a global economic power in the coming years. Further, India’s increasing focus on research and development has stirred the investors across the globe to invest in this country. Despite of the political, social, environmental factors hindering its growth, India continues to progress towards urbanisation with almost 39 cities inhabiting more than a million people. The flagship programmes like Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Mission for development of 100 smart cities, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are continually working on making the Indian cities grow sustainably. In the European Union, smart city initiatives are focusing majorly on smart environment which attracts us to study such programmes in which one can learn from both European Union and India perspectives. As a result, dynamic policy making initiatives would be incorporated in their respective policies. This paper will apprise what other countries can learn from Indians particularly the best techniques for growing to develop the smart and sustainable green cities. It will aid the policy makers to frame the suitable policies on the basis of experience.