Dinesh Kamath's news 'NMMC and Smart City Challenge' that was published in Newsband

NMMC and Smart City Challenge

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Under the aegis of India’s smart city challenge, Navi Mumbai is all geared up to meet the benchmark guidelines for the said challenge.

A Smart City requires comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure. All are important in improving the quality of life and attracting people and investments to the city, setting in motion a virtuous cycle of growth and development. Navi Mumbai is competent and eligible in all respects to earn the title of a Smart City.

For the last two months, the NMMC has launched a citizen connect programme, seeking suggestions and ideas from residents as well as professional bodies to motivate the residents to get involved in the process of development of the city. The views and concerns of the stakeholders about the city will have major contribution in formulating the vision for the city.

The achievements of NMMC:

·        High per capita income and cosmopolitan population

·        Higher Education Institutes - Engineering, Management and Medical

·        Major industrial area across Thane Belapur Road

·        Biggest trading centre APMC

·        Part of Proposed Knowledge Corridor

·        Two big infotech parks and presence of major players

·        Planned urban development

·        Picturesque coastal area and very green Parsik hill

·        Local dialling with the commercial capital

·        Account-based easy/low taxation instead of transaction/cash based octroi in other urban areas

The focus is on sustainable and inclusive development and the idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which will act like a light house for other aspiring cities. Area- based development will transform existing areas (retrofit and redevelop), including slums, into better planned ones, thereby improving liveability of the whole city. New areas (greenfield) will be developed 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. Comprehensive development in this way will improve quality of life, create employment and enhance incomes for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged, leading to inclusive cities.

Barrier-free walkable footpaths, transport service empowerment, unconventional use of energy to ensure electricity savings, parking facilities should be the top priority for improving Navi Mumbai for its residents. Development of marinas & sea transportation, setting up of yoga & entertainment centres, lake beautification, rural & slum development measures, improved drainage & sewage facilities to prevent pollution are necessary. Larger thrust should be given to disaster shelter centres & regular monitoring of the scheme empowerment. The civic body should also strengthen the fire brigade system, set up larger number of English medium municipal schools. Provisions of better public toilet conveniences should be drawn in the smart city blueprint. Lastly there should be smarter e-governance.