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Smart City project will be implemented on public-private partnership mode after cabinet approval

Urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre is also working on a scheme that targets construction of houses for all by 2022.

By PTI | Updated:
Smart City project will be implemented on public-private partnership mode after cabinet approval
NEW DELHI: Smart City project is in advanced stage and will be implemented on public-private partnership (PPP) mode after cabinet approval.

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said this during discussions with a Swedish delegation, led by Anna Johansson, Sweden's Minister for Infrastructure.

During the deliberations, Naidu gave an overview of the policy framework and other initiatives of the ministry. He said the Urban development Ministry is undertaking three important projects at the moment.

"One is Smart City Project, second is rejuvenation of 500 cities with more than 1 lakh population and the third is developing heritage cities," he said.

Naidu also touched upon the massive 'Housing for All' scheme which targets construction of houses for all by 2022.

The minister threw light on Swachh Bharat Mission and National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) through which skill development training is being imparted to the urban youth.
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He also highlighted his Ministry's priorities for enhancing public transportation system using Metro Rail and modern buses.

A Memorandum of Understanding between India and Sweden for cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development is ready for signing. The objective of the MoU is to promote cooperation between the participants in the field of sustainable urban development on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, taking into account the applicable laws and legal provisions in each country.

The priority areas of cooperation envisaged in the proposed MoU include dialogue and interaction between the two countries on global sustainable urban development issues and exchange of knowledge, institutional cooperation including capacity building research and development and commercial relations, regarding sustainable urban development.

Speaking on the occasion, Johansson said that Government of Sweden is willing to cooperate in the Smart City Project and India's sustainable urban development initiatives. Both the sides agreed to have pre-group meeting to discuss the modalities before a formal Joint Working Group is formed.
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Naidu suggested possible areas of cooperation such as sustainable and integrated urban planning and land use, integrated solid waste management, sustainable transport systems, water and sanitation management, Smart City and ICT applications, twinning of cities, transfer of green technologies, etc. His Swedish counterpart agreed to the suggestions and said that the government of Sweden is willing to cooperate in these areas.
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Cisco's campus in Bangalore: Lessons for PM Modi's smart cities
1/15
Moinak Mitra, ET Bureau

As the Chief Globalisation Officer at Cisco, Wim Elfrink prides himself on applying digital overlay to physical infrastructure.

He's also the brain behind the 2.18 million square feet Cisco Smart Campus in Bengaluru that houses eight glass-and-concrete buildings showcasing a digitally connected and sustainable environment where 8,500-odd techies don't have an assigned workplace.

The campus ecosystem resembles a smart city and is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's big idea of digitising India by setting up 100 smart cities.
Moinak Mitra, ET Bureau

As the Chief Globalisation Officer at Cisco, Wim Elfrink prides himself on applying digital overlay to physical infrastructure.

He's also the brain behin..
Read More
Though Elfrink is based out of Cisco's global HQ at San Jose, he's been a regular to the Bangalore campus since his India stint in 2007.

In his words, the campus is a smart city in itself, even more advanced than the San Jose headquarters of Cisco Systems.
Though Elfrink is based out of Cisco's global HQ at San Jose, he's been a regular to the Bangalore campus since his India stint in 2007.

In his words, the campus is a smart city in itself, ev..
Read More
A walkabout in the Cessna Business Park where the 32-acre Cisco SEZ is the lone corporate surrounded by LG, InMobi and a few other companies outside its gates gives a sense of the expanse and an evolving digital architecture that caters to the demands of the Gen Y employees, who make up roughly 25 per cent of its population (Cisco India contributes to 60 per cent of Gen Y staff company-wide globally).

As the younger workforce prefers a seamless environment for day-to-day activities, it ties in quite naturally with the company's vision of work-live-play-learn.
A walkabout in the Cessna Business Park where the 32-acre Cisco SEZ is the lone corporate surrounded by LG, InMobi and a few other companies outside its gates gives a sense of the expanse and an evol..
Read More
Cisco employees can book a work station through the global network by scanning the QR code in their device. It then extends to a higher degree of personalization wherein the IT registration mode tosses up the employee's preferences—lighting, air-conditioning, TV channels, phone profile preferences, and even the blinds setup.

Simply put, you get to choose not only your workplace for the day but also your ambient light and temperature zone at the touch of a button.
Cisco employees can book a work station through the global network by scanning the QR code in their device. It then extends to a higher degree of personalization wherein the IT registration mode toss..
Read More
Employees can access their seat for the day much before entering the campus, be it next to friends at work or by the cool confines of a Zen-like garden.

And when they are done for the day, the seat is up for grabs again, thereby increasing space utilization campus-wide, which today sits at 58 per cent.
Employees can access their seat for the day much before entering the campus, be it next to friends at work or by the cool confines of a Zen-like garden.

And when they are done for the day, th..
Read More
Of course, Cisco is high on tele-presence, an innovation the company has perfected over the years and high-definition screens abound in the campus that hook on to 600-odd Cisco offices worldwide, as well as with the location of clients and partners.
Of course, Cisco is high on tele-presence, an innovation the company has perfected over the years and high-definition screens abound in the campus that hook on to 600-odd Cisco offices worldwide, as ..
Read More
The Bangalore campus is perhaps the most connected in the Cisco ecosystem.

People can pick any conference room, and adjust the lights, shutters or even control the AC.
The Bangalore campus is perhaps the most connected in the Cisco ecosystem.

People can pick any conference room, and adjust the lights, shutters or even control the AC.
Talking of security, the company's transport buses, used by 30 per cent of the staff, are fitted with GPS tied to the Transport Control Room.

Apart from route information, even if the driver deviates from the prescribed route or over-speeds, an alert is generated.
Talking of security, the company's transport buses, used by 30 per cent of the staff, are fitted with GPS tied to the Transport Control Room.

Apart from route information, even if the driver d..
Read More
Moreover, all transport vehicles come equipped with RFID tag readers.

In other words, staff are supposed to swipe in on entry and swipe out on exit. If they do not get off at a registered place, which is the drop-off point, an alert again gets generated. For those who prefer to drive down to work, parking is made easy.

Though the campus has room for 2,200 cars, there are sensors on the ground that pick up whether a parking lot is occupied or empty. So the employee gets to choose his parking lot much in advance over his registered device and can park without any hassle. The idea is to manage parking efficiently.
Moreover, all transport vehicles come equipped with RFID tag readers.

In other words, staff are supposed to swipe in on entry and swipe out on exit. If they do not get off at a registered plac..
Read More
On campus, efficiency flows even in the business of food. The five cafeterias can accommodate roughly 6,000 people. This is where the 'Connected Café' solution comes in handy providing information on where things lie.

While the main kiosk on the entrance to cafes is one way to look at things—menu, availability— anyone can do the same from their device. Giri Govindrajalu, Director IT, Cisco India swishes his iPad and goes to the Connected Café app where he pinpoints to a North Indian Thali with 1,259 kilo calories.
On campus, efficiency flows even in the business of food. The five cafeterias can accommodate roughly 6,000 people. This is where the 'Connected Café' solution comes in handy providing information on..
Read More
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Venkaiah Naidu |smart city |National Urban Renewal Mission |Swachh Bharat Mission

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