WORKING TOWARDS SMARTER CITIES

Thought leaders and innovators of smart cities engage to explore better solutions

The BW Businessworld 7th Annual Smart Cities conclave held in Port Blair on 29 November. In an inaugural speech, Chetan B Sanghi, Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration stated, “Port Blair is producing 93 per cent electricity from diesel, and it is planning to produce green energy resources in next two years.”

Sanghi pointed out the logical and smart systems that are being worked in Andaman and highlighted the compulsory introduction of electric vehicles, the launch of shipping services on green energy, and the conversion of the existing boats into electric vehicles.

Subrata Das, Sr. Director, Digital Transformation Office, SAP India, said, “We have come a long way in our smart cities mission. Several things have gone right and could have gone better, but we can always learn. We should look at development as how many jobs have been created and new streams uncovered.”

Das informed, “If you look at the Smart Cities 2.0, there will be a lot of data being generated, but it has to transform in decision-making, asset management, and there is a need to look at environmental and financial sustainability.” “Fiscal balance has to be attained when you have financial management structures, where IT systems can help implementing Blockchain Technology, which is secure,” he added.

NSN Murty, Partner & Leader, Smart Cities, PwC India, said, we are getting the opportunity not just in funding but in administration as well. The smart cities mission might extend in its completion, but the tenders need to close by June 2020. He also spoke about the intent to do it as the most important part of the mission.