The much hyped ‘smart’ Bandra-Kurla Complex project is all set to go live by next October, with features like smart parking lots, free hi-speed WiFi internet, solar-powered street lights with motion sensors and advanced CCTV networks and a mobile app that will enable citizens to use all the facilities. Sanjay Sethi, Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA extensively shared the components and challenges of the mega project to transform BKC into country’s first Smart Business District with Swapnil Rawal.
Q: What is the current status of the project with request for the proposal (RFP) floated. And by when can we see the project go live?
A: We have received the RFPs as September 30 was the last date. We have got responses from about 23 global and national technology companies. These are complex RFPs worth Rs 20 crore and need to assess. We are looking at a year’s timeframe to actual implementation of the project. Especially for the WiFi as most of the fibre is laid, which can be used so it shouldn’t take time, but majority of the time will go in the tie-ups of the various companies. Being the first brownfield Smart City Project in the country, MMRDA and the government envisages to make it a role model for the country.
Q: What are the issues MMRDA faced when you decided on this plan of transforming BKC as the country’s first Smart Business District?
A: That’s right. First problem that we came across when we started talking about the smart city first line I now say is that we’re not ULB. We do not have any mandate. We’re doing it in a controlled environment where we’re taking some smart steps. Gradually it became like people were asking, why aren’t we (MMRDA) doing anything about water issues, but we don’t have that mandate; it is with BMC. Then the whole debate of “Smart” includes all these things. Right now smart means everything. Today we have made it like an impossible dream. It’s about certain smart component in some specific areas. Again “smartness” can added in everything that we do. Then we started to downplay the ICT part. It was like a whole civic debate the city has water woes what are we talking about WiFi etc., but that’s in the context of the city. This is specific to only BKC.
Q: Has the plan of a smart business district derived from some other country?
A: It’s not a complete lift. Most of it is used in various countries. Not really modelled it on any city. How we reached to these four or five components is through a lot of churning.
Q: Can you share some details of the crucial component which is “smart parking” considering parking is one of the chronic issues in Mumbai?
A: We plan to enable citizens with 3000 new slots of automated parking with effective mobile parking apps and Public information system. This would enable hassle free parking, ease of parking slot identification and booking. Apart from the smart parking part; we have already tendered out parking lots to various people. So those will get over by mid 2016 some later in the year. And we’ve been saying that at least that much revenue must accrue to MMRDA because at the end of the day, this whole project must provide us enough revenue to care of the operations and maintenance definitely. Maybe more but that cannot be completely forecast today. So we’ve tried to build a revenue model accordingly because parking component will be a big part of it.
Q: What are the innovative ways in using the parking space in BKC?
A: Of course, we’re trying to say that because of the smart components added some leeway to use it for night parking along with stricter monitoring which will help. We’re trying to combine regulation with better market operation. Newer innovative ways of attracting commercial vehicles also, so of the residential vehicles from Bandra, which are right now parked outside could be parked here at night especially because this is an office area. And the parking spaces are not used to capacity at night. Along with that there is proximity to airports. Some fleet taxis companies are keen to tie up so that they can use this safe parking space; something which will be very important to them. It will work out in some way. Right now it’s little premature to talk about the nitty-gritty. But these are 4-5 innovative ways of using these parking spaces which will give the revenue at the same time the smart part where you app will be working, the parking is smart and safely managed.
Q: Please elaborate on the smart/high tech elements that will be incorporated for creating an energy efficient business district?
A: Currently, there are 841 street lights with 1,325 bulbs of different wattage, for which MMRDA spends Rs 6.5 lakh per month on electricity bills, besides Rs 14.15 lakh on maintenance. With use of latest technology, the two blocks will be empowered with 841 smart solar-powered street lights powered with time and motion sensor. The energy saved would be passed on to the Smart Grid contributing to the vision of BKC as an Energy Neutral Zone. Smart Streetlight –Smart Streetlights equipped with solar panels, Time and Motion Sensor, with auto ON/OFF and Smart Grid features would enabled annual reduction of carbon emissions by 800 tonnes and energy consumption by approximately 40 per cent.
Q: Another key component in the project is hi-speed internet. Please elaborate on this component.
A: When we talk about WiFi, the speeds that would be offered will be faster than what we get today in 3G and even 4G and for free of a certain capacity. Earlier, it was for 30 minutes, we are planning to modify it. Now we are talking about a certain capacity that you could use in one hour or three hour. Rather than the connection disconnecting on the 31st minute giving a certain capacity to use is a better deal and much more consumer friendly. Our target groups will obviously be visitors as the corporate office have their own network. There is revenue through WiFi internet, but again, we don’t want to be too greedy with pop-ups after every click which becomes very irritating. We want to keep it very reasonable.
Q: Please tell us about the mode of project implementation?
A: Entire capital cost will be borne by MMRDA. This project is not on a BOT model. For eg: the Connaught Place plan is not a success model which was on BOT. We are putting the money here as against the case of a BOT project. We can also be flexible for some extra coverage in terms of finance. In fact, the revenue sharing starts after two years. After which 70 per cent of the revenue has to be shared with MMRDA. But to tell you very frankly, these components are made up in a way that it becomes a win-win situation for all parties.
