by Mr. Kishor Pate, CMD - Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd
Today,
there is little doubt that the Indian economy has the potential to become the
most successful one globally.
However, its overall development has historically
been shanghaied by lack of political will and the very slow growth of our
infrastructure.
With the arrival of the Mr. Narendra Modi Government, we can at last look
forward to a more proactive approach to infrastructure development, which will
definitely help in bringing on a new era of progress and change in India.
Among
the most promising initiatives of the NaMo Government is the Smart Cities
program.
Recently, Pune has been added to the list of Smart Cities to receive
the incentives under this plan, which effectively means that it will be provided
central assistance to the tune of Rs 100 crore per year for the specific purpose
of deploying infrastructure projects which will have definite and distinct
larger public benefit.
Pune,
the city as we know it today, is now on the verge of complete transformation. We
are looking at a city that will literally be reinvented. Over time, Pune will
see the arrival of assured electricity and water supply for every citizen,
high-grade sanitation, pedestrian-friendly footpaths, non-motorised transport
zones reserved exclusively for walking and cycling, vastly improved traffic
management including smart parking solutions, more open spaces and
encroachment-free public areas, and many other benefits.
Kishor Pate, CMD - Amit Enterprises Housing Ltd |
But
infrastructure is only one aspect. Among the many advantages of smart cities
is the generation of employment – the single-most important element that can
support the overall growth of the Indian economy.
Also, smart cities bring in
massive amount of investment, apart from creating healthy and comfortable living
conditions for millions of people. And – very importantly - smart cities will
have a tremendous boosting power for the the Indian real estate sector.
The
Introduction Of Smart Cities In India..
The
initiative for smart cities began when Mr. Arun Jaitley, the finance minister,
allocated Rs. 7,060 crore in the last Union Budget to create of transform 100
cities into smart cities. The potential investments into these smart cities
would cause India to reach heights that no other country in the world has
touched so far.
Actually,
a budget of Rs. 70 crore for every city falls quite short of what it would take
to build an actual smart city – we are not just talking about mere townships.
Mr. Jaitley has clarified that this budget is just the seed money require to
trigger the work; the actual corpus of funds will have to be generated in
collaboration with the private sector.
This means participation by corporate and
individual investors, who will supply the bulk of funding required to build
smart cities from the ground up, or to transform existing cities into smart
cities.
What
Are Smart Cities All About?
Smart
cities, by definition, are all about:
- Smart governance
- Smart buildings
- Smart energy
- Smart technology
- Smart infrastructure
- Smart mobility
- Smart healthcare
- Smart citizens
Every
one of these parameters would require the private sector to offer technical
expertise and manpower. It is estimated that by 2030, in excess of 600 million
people will migrate to India’s urban landscape and smart cities would be the
only solution to reduce the chaos. Further, going smart will support cleaner
living standards, health and productivity without burdening our already
depleting natural resources.
The
success of smart cities will ultimately depend on the people running them. They
will be responsible for the utilities like power, water, gas, etc. Smart cities
will also provide an adequate number of hospitals, schools, workplace hubs,
hotels and entertainment complexes. Overall, these cities should promote a
completely optimized urban experience.
Smart
cities will invariably change the very face of the Indian economy. Globally,
there are just 26 smart cities and the Indian Government is now aiming to add
four times this number. Consequently, there is an express need to boost
important sectors like information technology, manufacturing and
development.
About
The Author
Kishor Pate, Chairman
& Managing Director of Amit
Enterprises Housing Ltd. is the driving force behind one of the most
successful real estate development firms in Pune and beyond.
Apart from its
signature luxury homes towers and premium gated townships, AEHL has also
launched highly successful affordable housing projects like Astonia Classic and Colori in Undri
and the Mediterranean-style township Astonia Royale in Ambegaon.
For media contact
Jay Kalghatgi
Client Interface - CopyConnect
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