Rajan Gandhi
Smart City name itself makes one dream of a living environment which really seems impossible to implement in our life span. The Government of India’s plan of building Smart Cities has gained a lot of attention from the citizens of the country and from media across the globe. The Government’s mission is to develop 100 cities, in phases and finally Jammu has been included in the list of probable Smart Cities by the Union Urban Development Ministry. The criteria for selection, amongst other factors, was based on the city’s size, population, infrastructure level and future scope for up gradation. Project Smart City means advanced infrastructure, sustainable homes, clean air to breathe, free flowing transportation, uninterrupted power and water supply, proper sanitation, smart management of traffic and utilities in the city. The smart city tag will also pave way for technologically integrated, well planned, environment friendly urban spaces that promises ultimate living conditions for the city residents. In practical terms, it would mean having a network of sensors, cameras, wireless devices, improved IT connectivity, e-governance and high level community participation. Several projects will be undertaken by the authorities which include replacement of ordinary streetlights with LEDs, installation of solar panels on Government building rooftops, retrofitting of old city bazaars like Raghunath Bazaar, Mubarak Mandi, smart signboards to be set up across the city, integrated command and control room, smart sanitation, 24hour smart water supply , undergrounding of cables, replacement and rehabilitation of sewerage network, construction of rain water network, smart poles, citizen collaboration platform, construction and demolition (C&D) waste management in Jammu city, carcass utilization plant , smart roads including complete streets (sidewalk, disabled friendly), on street parking arrangements, introduction of erickshaws, streetscape improvement, multilevel car parking (MLCP) .
As a part of this initiative, majority of these works require detailed project reports (DPRs) and after this tenders have to be floated for all projects.These projects once completed will catapult the living standard of the people of this city of temples. There will be proper arrangement for round-the-clock power and water supply. Retrofitting model will immensely benefit the old areas of the city. As per the project report, footpaths and cycling tracks will be laid on roadsides all along the intersector roads as well as those leading to markets to encourage people to switch over to non motorized transport. Traffic sensing lights will be installed for smoother flow of traffic and lesser pollution. There will be e surveillance with CCTV cameras and sensors at every point. So, it will help in better traffic management and there won’t be any congestion in these old areas, the command and control room will keep a check on activities across the city. Under the smart signage project, smart signboards will be installed that will display time and weather. Besides, public toilets will be constructed for men, women and physically challenged. One of the key focus areas is to bring transformational changes in urban mobility and public transport, including bringing relief from traffic chaos and reduction in pollution levels. As part of the smart city project, city bus network will be strengthened along with the development of environment friendly transport. Also, there is a proposal for GPS enabled smart e rickshaws to replace diesel autos. To reduce the pollution levels, there are plans to introduce electric buses and other initiatives like usage of bio fuels. All the steps being taken to develop a smart city can prove effective only with the active participation of the city residents. Many roundabouts have to be beautified in the city with the help of city residents who have to come forward to adopt some of the parks within the city. The faith that the residents show in JMC is going to have cascading impact on efforts to develop Jammu as a truly smart city.
The retrofitting of various markets is an important project. Under it, similar display boards will be installed in the entire market so that all shops bear a similar look. To increase public participation, JMC has to embark on several initiatives this year, including Celebration Days, biweekly street event providing citizens the opportunity to reclaim their streets, connect with their community, celebrate their city and therefore, reclaim their lives. Launched under the Smart City project, the initiative will be aimed at ensuring no vehicular traffic movement in the area. The Smart City project will have a transformational effect on Jammu, which is an important pilgrimage hub in north India. The smart tag will further give a boost to its image as a progressive city. Also, energy conservation, waste disposal mechanisms, sustainable living conditions and rainwater harvesting will be amongst the amenities that the people can look forward to apart from the common conveniences once Jammu is developed into a smart city. Few years down the line, we will see a different Jammu with more amenities and utilities for people as it will become more livable and lovable .Response from the city residents, to commute by cycles in the market is going to be an experience.
But there are many challenges which need to be addressed time to time to make Smart city projects get implemented. Firstly, our thinking has to be smart to develop a smart city. Foremost challenge is channeling finance to the Smart Cities. The total estimate of investment in smart city totals up to 7 lakh crore within a span of 20 years and an annual requirement of Rs. 35,000 crore. Mobilizing such huge finance is a challenge for any government. Quick approval and clearance is of utmost importance as it takes a great deal of time to get approval and clearance from any government institution. Co-ordination among multiple stakeholders is required at best as there is no room for conflicts in segregation of duties. The involvement of multiple stakeholders in the project adds to the complexity due to the difference in ways of working. Retrofitting existing cities means adding features to the existing set up to make it more efficient. Human resource of the workers and staff required to implement the project is itself huge as to find skilled workers and professionals is not an easy task. Moreover ours being a special state where regional power fabric comes to picture which has already delayed many projects like ropeway projects at Patnitop and Jammu , artificial lake project, restoration of Mubarak Mandi to name a few. The ongoing turmoil at Kashmir is another factor as any delay in making Srinagar a smart city is automatically going to delay Jammu project as well. Jammu ranked 251 in Swach Bharat report card and as such it will be a herculean task for JMC to rise to occasion.
Ideally it is hoped that along the course of next five years when the cities would be financed, there would be a proportional allocation towards maintenance of these facilities. It is then that one can be satisfied that the entire edifice is in place. The fact of the matter is, the Government must look for a smart way to overcome these challenges for this project to be successful. Implementing Smart Cities is a prestigious project of the Government of India. The future of urbanization in India lies in the success of this project.
No one has a problem with the first mile of a journey. Even an infant could do fine for a while. But it isn’t the start that matters, it’s the finish line. Vision leads to proper planning and proper planning leads to successful completion.
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