Dehradun has crossed the first hurdle by succeeding in the first stage of being listed among potential smart cities. Now the city, along with other selected potential smart cities will prepare its ‘Smart City Proposal’ (SCP) for the ‘City Challenge’.
If it succeeds in this second stage of the competition, funds will be provided for executing the major improvements that are expected to take place in development of Dehradun into a Smart City.
Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli and the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority vice chairman R Meenakshi Sundaram who is also the nodal officer for the smart city mission, have already initiated efforts to boost chances of Dehradun being selected in the second stage of the competition. According to the Smart City mission statement and guidelines, the SCP is expected to contain the model chosen, whether retrofitting or redevelopment or greenfield development or a combination, and additionally include a Pan-City dimension with Smart Solutions.
The SCP will also outline the consultations held with the city residents and other stakeholders, how the aspirations are matched with the vision contained in the SCP and importantly, what is the proposal for financing of the Smart City plan including the revenue model to attract private participation.
While those selected in this round start taking action on making their city smart, those not selected will start work on improving their SCPs for consideration in the second round.
The core infrastructure elements in a Smart City would include adequate water supply, assured electricity supply, sanitation, including solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable housing- especially for the poor, robust IT connectivity and digitalisation, good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation, sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens- particularly women, children and the elderly, and health and education.
If Dehradun is successful in the second stage of the competition, area-based development will transform existing areas (retrofit and redevelop), including slums, into better planned ones improving livability of the whole city.
New areas (greenfield) will be developed around the city in order to accommodate the expanding population in urban areas. Application of Smart Solutions will enable cities to use technology, information and data to improve infrastructure and services.
However, observers point out that the challenges in executing this project successfully in Dehradun are many. The authorities will have to create walkable localities — reduce congestion, air pollution and resource depletion, boost local economy, promote interactions and ensure security. The road network will have to be created or refurbished not only for vehicles and public transport, but also for pedestrians and cyclists, and necessary administrative services will have to be offered within walking or cycling distance.
Open spaces like parks and playgrounds will have to be preservedand developed to enhance the quality of life of citizens, reduce the urban heat effects in areas and generally promote eco-balance.
It should be mentioned here that efforts taken so far by the authorities to regulate the public transport system in Dehradun have been met with strong opposition following which city buses and Vikrams used in public transport continue to flout various regulations.
When it comes to open spaces and greenery, the city faces greater challenges because unplanned urbanisation allowed by the authorities has left limited open spaces apart from causing a major depletion in greenery to such an extent that officials now state that there is little space left in Dehradun city even for planting trees. Though the Smart City mission has the potential to drastically enhance the city, in case the city is selected in the second stage, it remains to be seen how the authorities will go about facilitating the major developments envisioned in the scheme.