Mangaluru, September 19: Mayor Jacintha Vijay Aflred chaired a meeting to discuss on Smart City Proposal (SCP), at MCC here on Saturday September 19th.
MCC commissioner Dr H N Gopalkrishna during the meeting said as there is confusion among the people about the project, public awareness must be created about the Smart Cities Mission and requested the media’s support for this. Mangaluru is yet to get qualified in the first list of 20 cities and in this regard just two days ago consultants have arrived in Mangaluru. A proposal has to be sent as to how we want to see Mangaluru after five years. Under the leadership of deputy commissioner, district advisory forum has to be formed and before December 15th, final proposal has to be sent.
A presentation on Smart City project was given by the Consultants representing the union government, according to which, the planned components of area-based development in the Smart Cities Mission are city improvement (retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension (greenfield development) plus a pan-city initiative in which smart solutions are applied covering larger parts of the city.
Retrofitting will introduce planning in an existing built-up area to achieve Smart City objectives, along with other objectives, to make the existing area more efficient and liveable. In retrofitting, an area consisting of more than 500 acres will be identified by the city in consultation with citizens. Depending on the existing level of infrastructure services in the identified area and the vision of the residents, the cities will prepare a strategy to become smart.
Redevelopment will effect a replacement of the existing built-up environment and enable co-creation of a new layout with enhanced infrastructure using mixed land use and increased density. Redevelopment envisages an area of more than 50 acres, identified by urban local bodies (ULBs) in consultation with citizens.
Greenfield development will introduce most of the smart solutions in a previously vacant area (more than 250 acres) using innovative planning, plan financing and plan implementation tools (for example, land pooling/ land reconstitution) with provision for affordable housing, especially for the poor. Greenfield developments are required around cities in order to address the needs of the expanding population.
Pan-city development envisages application of selected smart solutions to the existing city-wide infrastructure. Application of smart solutions will involve the use of technology, information and data to make infrastructure and services better.
The smart city proposal of each shortlisted city is expected to encapsulate either a retrofitting or redevelopment or greenfield development model, or a mix of these, and a pan-city feature with smart solution(s). Pan-city is an additional feature to be provided. Since Smart City is taking a compact area approach, it is necessary that all the city residents feel there is something in it for them also. Therefore, the additional requirement of some (at least one) city-wide smart solution has been put in the scheme to make it inclusive.
Awareness needs to created among the public on this and city-wide concept plan should be prepared by October 15th.
During the meet, Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chithrapura, media representatives and other officials were present.
