Pillars of Smart City
Institutional Infrastructure, Physical Infrastructure, Social Infrastructure, and Economic Infrastructure constitute the basic pillars on which a smart city rests and it works towards ensuring the best for its people, regardless of social status, political affiliation, age, income, gender, etc. These are
- Institutional Infrastructure: It refers to the activities that relate to the governance and management of urban areas. The information & communication technology (ICT) has provided a new dimension to this system making it efficient, accountable, transparent, and citizen-centric. It includes participatory governance, e-governance, and inclusive governance.
- Physical Infrastructure: It refers to cost-efficient and intelligent physical infrastructure which has urban mobility systems, the energy system, the water supply system, sewerage system, sanitation facilities, solid waste management system, drainage system, etc., and all are well integrated through the use of technology.
- Economic Infrastructure: For a city to attract economic opportunities, investments and to create the appropriate employment, it has to first identify its core areas and competence, comparative advantages and strength, and analyze its potential for generating appropriate economic activities.
- Social Infrastructure: It is related to the development of human and social capital. Along with education and healthcare; it includes creative arts, sports, children’s parks, gardens, and open spaces. The city must have facilities that bring disadvantageous sections i.e. SCs, STs, minorities, disabled people, and women into the mainstream of development.
Smart City Mission – Features, Strategy and Challenges
Across the world, the pace of migration from rural to urban areas is increasing rapidly. According to United Nations, by 2050, about 68% of the world population will be living in urban areas and India is no exception. While the urban Indian population is currently around 31%(Census, 2011) of the total population, it will be over 50% by 2030 as projected by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Considering the enormous importance of urbanization, Smart City Mission(SSM) has been launched by the Government of India in 2015.
Smart City initiative drives economic growth, improves the quality of life, facilitates local development with the help of digital and information technology, follows best practices of urban planning, utilizes public-private partnerships and policy change through smart solutions. A ‘Smart city’ is an urban area that is highly advanced in terms of sustainable land use, transport & communication, market viability, and overall infrastructure. It is a city where technology is the principal source for providing essential services to residents and focuses on sustainable and inclusive development.