Ujjain : Real time implementation is the key to successful erection of the Smart City, say experts in the city.
Experts said the constitutional structure of the country has a federal democratic structure, so it needs the cooperation and coordination of states, coupled with that of urban local bodies, to build smart cities. Smart cities will face many challenges. Greenfield (new) projects are likely to face hurdles such as getting land acquisition rights and lengthy approval processes, as well as finding the right location.
Similarly Principal Ujjain Engineering College and Professor of Civil Engineering Dr Umesh Pendharkar does not agree with the proposal including strategic components of area-based development. Dr Pendharkar told Free Press that the proposal includes retrofitting existing built-up area covering a minimum of 500 acres, redevelopment and replacement of existing environment with minimum of 50 acres, and Greenfield development in a vacant land of minimum 250 acres.
It also includes a pan-city initiative wherein smart solutions will be applied, and cover larger parts of the city. Which he says is a herculean task for the authorities to execute. First hand the authorities have not been able to remove rampant encroachment from the key areas of the city, take Freeganj or Gopal Mandir, he said. Second there are four basic parameters which are must for a smart city- 24 Hour water supplies, unbarred electricity, transit transport and sustainable commerce system. Of which none of the four are in existence in the city. Further, he said making a city having free Wi-Fi, does not make it a Smart, the technology should be put to the human aid, he added.
Holy city needs to remain Holy
On the other hand the Pundits and Gurus of the city say that Holy City cannot be turned into a Smart City. They say only a think of air of Smart proposal stirs them, as the heritage and values over which the city was built, have no heritage conservation clauses in the proposal of Smart city. Pt Anand Shankar Vyas, said the wild corruption and negligence is not going to change anything in the holy city. What we need to change is morale. He said the Holy City remains to be in original form, or they need to change their proposals.
Authorities promise heaven
The city will see a significant change in city governance, says Municipal Commissioner Avinash Lavania. While he believes ‘smart’ governance is the biggest benefit, he says it will also be the most challenging to implement. The archaic systems of governance need to change. As a smart city, Ujjainites can expect a responsive, pro-active, and enabling governance, which will be people and development oriented. Smart processes and systems will run the urban administration, where delays and bottlenecks in decision making will be a thing of the past. As far as infrastructure changes go, citizens can expect the supply of clean water, efficient disposal of garbage and sewage, efficient traffic management and public transportation systems, reduced pollution levels, and improved pedestrian facilities and road infrastructure, he added.
