What Makes A Smart City?
Construction Week|June 2016

Guy Perry, president, cities & strategy, Essel Infraprojects, has definitive ideas on what makes a Smart City

Jayashree Kini-Mendes
What Makes A Smart City?

To do good, and do it right. More importantly, to do right by the people. That is Guy Perry’s motivation. As president (cities and strategy) at Essel Infraprojects (EIL), Perry believes that a good action must go somewhere and it is with this thought he moved to India early this year armed with three decades of experience in urban planning, designing and developing ‘wise’ cities.

Not for him just a smart city. It has to be wise too. A wise city, says Perry, is one that will be sustainable for generations to come. And although deployment of technology is inevitable, such a city will look at different aspects of development and movement systems, people’s well-being and the impact on the environment. He should know. In his earlier stints across Asia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, he has created and redeveloped and designed cities that today stand as icons that other countries could emulate.

Over the last couple of years, Essel Infraprojects Ltd has been betting big on integrating its Smart Utilities model, so that it can set the pace for building integrated smart cities in the country. At a time when the Indian government has selected 20 cities that will be the first to receive funds, of the 98 short-listed, to convert them into smart cities, EIL is looking at transforming the quality of life of citizens. And this is where Perry comes in. His novel ideas will help the company bid for and execute the projects to make a huge difference to its citizens. For starters, he affirms that “whatever we do in India has to be done on its own terms. That doesn’t mean we cannot be inspired by what has been done in other parts of the world. But there are specific challenges here. I would like to think that we will find the right balance of technological innovations that will establish a better framework of life for the people here. And this needs to be done in a short span of time”.

Denne historien er fra June 2016-utgaven av Construction Week.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra June 2016-utgaven av Construction Week.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA CONSTRUCTION WEEKSe alt
HOUSING SALES IN MAJOR CITIES DROP BY 11% IN Q3 2024, SURPASSING NEW PROPERTY LAUNCHES: ANAROCK GROUP
Construction Week

HOUSING SALES IN MAJOR CITIES DROP BY 11% IN Q3 2024, SURPASSING NEW PROPERTY LAUNCHES: ANAROCK GROUP

Six salient growth levers include urbanization, demographic shifts, digitalization, sustainability

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
INDIAN REAL ESTATE SET FOR BREAKTHROUGH: 16% GROWTH TO PROPEL MARKET TO $10 TRILLION BY 2047: COLLIERS-CREDAI REPORT
Construction Week

INDIAN REAL ESTATE SET FOR BREAKTHROUGH: 16% GROWTH TO PROPEL MARKET TO $10 TRILLION BY 2047: COLLIERS-CREDAI REPORT

Six salient growth levers include urbanization, demographic shifts, digitalization, sustainability

time-read
5 mins  |
October 2024
GAUR NYC RESIDENCES
Construction Week

GAUR NYC RESIDENCES

Group's third ultra-luxury project

time-read
2 mins  |
October 2024
HIRANANDANI WOODSPRING
Construction Week

HIRANANDANI WOODSPRING

Hiranandani Woodspring by House of Hiranandani, located along the Bhiwandi-Kalyan corridor is spread across 4.5 acres. The premium residential complex is set to change the skylines of Kalyan with its neoclassical and meticulously crafted towers of 25-28 storeys.

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
OPENING DOORS TO THE WORLD
Construction Week

OPENING DOORS TO THE WORLD

Aluk India opened its Home Experience Centre in Bangalore. It will offer partners and customers an insight into fascinating and unique products

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
OVER THE TOP
Construction Week

OVER THE TOP

Building bridges and flyovers that last decades is easy, if you follow stringent principles

time-read
4 mins  |
October 2024
RIGHT FROM UNDER
Construction Week

RIGHT FROM UNDER

When it comes to CE, excavators beat others hands down

time-read
7 mins  |
October 2024
THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE
Construction Week

THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE

Amit Jain, chairman & managing director, Arkade Developers, joined his father's real estate A pretty early on in his career. While his father entered the world of real estate in 1985-86 with single stand-alone buildings, Amit quickly learnt the ropes and joined his father after completing his graduation from Mithibai College.

time-read
6 mins  |
October 2024
SUSHMA GROUP ACQUIRES 59-ACRE LAND PARCEL
Construction Week

SUSHMA GROUP ACQUIRES 59-ACRE LAND PARCEL

The focus is on sustainable development and modern urban planning

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024
TREVOC GROUP SETS RS 1000 CRORE TARGET
Construction Week

TREVOC GROUP SETS RS 1000 CRORE TARGET

This project offers more than just luxury amenities

time-read
1 min  |
October 2024