Delhi is far from being a smart city. Parties have a chance to set the ball rolling ahead of the municipal election. It must aspire to match a New York, Copenhagen or Seoul
If you happen to be crossing by a street light at a New York intersection, do not be surprised if it talks back. The lamp is fitted with a large video screen, speaker and a microphone. As you walk by, an actor will engage you, and even as you grapple with your initial feeling of surprise, the actor explains that he can provide weather and traffic information, answer questions about the area and help you get to know the neighborhood better. The illuminating assistant can even help you find a free parking.
Over 3,845 miles away, world’s most sustainable city Copenhagen is working on an ambitious target of becoming a carbon neutral capital by 2025 through setting up 20,000 networked lED street lights that will reduce energy use by 50 per cent, cut carbon dioxide emissions. Further, 5,000 miles away, grappling with overflowing trash on streets, Seoul is deploying a high-end waste management solution.
World over, there is an unprecedented race among cities to become smart. Experts predict the world’s urban population will be doubled by 2050, which means we are adding the equivalent of seven New York cities to the planet every year. As our planet becomes more urban, our cities need to be smart to handle this change. We will need to find ways to manage complexity, increase efficiency, reduce expenses and improve quality of life.
The idea of smart cities makes lot of sense in the wake of the upcoming elections to municipal corporations of Delhi. Delhi is a unique collage of diverse cultures — a microcosm of India with migrants from all parts of the country settled here. Unlike Chennai or Mumbai, where strong local cultures overshadow small traditions, Delhi is a mosaic of varied cultures, with no predominant culture of its own.
However, the capital city has the same set of problems as other metropolitan cities. Much before we can consider making it smart, we must work on turning it sane by ensuring basic facilities and systems.
There are wide contrasts in its residential colonies, from the very posh to the filth-laden neighborhoods. Municipal schools, healthcare centers and other civic facilities seem scant in many parts of the city and the idea of Swachch Bharat Abhiyan gets defeated everyday here with unprecedented public apathy.
Disease and filth stare in the face of Delhiites every day. Dengue and chikungunya make a feast in the capital. Parks are in plenty on paper, but in reality, they stand neglected. Drainages are choked and overflow mercilessly.
While the buzz on elections is in full swing, we have not seen much by way of constructive ideas of political parties on how they propose to change things in the capital city. For Delhi to get comprehensively smart, the need of hour some extraordinary efforts. And this is what political parties can propose in their election manifestos.
First and foremost, they must focus on cleanliness. We need to have modern street cleaning techniques and garbage collection methods to ensure our neighborhoods do not stink. A clean environment will also not allow diseases to flourish.
Second, parks must be green and maintained well. The dirt and filth so common to parks should go.
Third, most roads are clogged with garbage and vehicles. Efforts must be made to streamline parking with active participation of citizens.
Fourth, ideas like solar lighting, public transport and rainwater harvesting must be aggressively encouraged to give breather to Delhi’s suffocating lungs.
Fifth, encroachments are a major cause of worry for the civic body and this must be dealt with firmly. In most of the above, unfortunately, political consideration and vote-bank sensitivities override genuine needs and this breeds indifference and apathy of a unique kind.
Delhi is a gargantuan mess, and very far from smart. It must aspire to match a New York, Copenhagen or Seoul. Political parties have a chance to set the ball rolling. And the beginning has to be made in their manifestos. We shall wait and watch.
(The writer is a strategic communications professional)