India's Urban Ambitions

India’s Urban Ambitions

Smart Cities Mission | AMRUT

Introduction

The Government of India has an ambitious ‘Smart Cities’ Mission to improve the quality of life, attract people and investment and set in motion a virtuous cycle of growth and development in India’s cities and urban areas. As per the 2011 census, India’s urban population was only 31% of the total but accounted for 63% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. By 2030, the urban population will be 40% of the total and will account for 75% of the nation’s GDP. With this view, the Government has decided to streamline development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure in the cities and urban areas under the umbrella ‘smart cities’ mission.

What is a Smart City?
In the simplest of terms, ‘smart’ in this context means ‘getting more for less’. Smart Cities tap a range of approaches - digital and information technologies, urban planning best practices, public-private partnerships, and policy change - to focus on the most pressing needs and on the greatest opportunities to improve living conditions. The development of ‘smart’ cities, therefore, needs to focus on streamlining physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure to make development impacts felt across all four aspects. With this in view, the Smart Cities Mission seeks to improve core infrastructure of the cities, provide a decent quality of life, maintain a clean and sustainable environment and incorporate advanced technological solutions wherever possible.

100 cities across the country have been selected for the Smart Cities Mission in four batches. Smart City Proposals from each of these cities’ Municipal Boards, were evaluated on the criteria of:

Evaluation Criteria

Key Aspects

Credibility of Implementation

  • Operational Effectiveness of Public Entities
  • Traffic Congestion Status
  • Administrative Efficiency
  • Water & Sewerage Situation

City Vision & Strategy

  • Needs, aspirations & wishes of citizens
  • Quality of Living
  • ICT
  • Main economic activity, sustainability & inclusiveness

Proposal Impact

  • Citizen Consultation & Quantification of Outcomes
  • Indicators & Targets, Goals & Objectives
  • Primary Economic Base & Employment
  • Inclusiveness

Cost Effectiveness

  • Implementation Plan
  • Financing Plan
  • Financial Sustainability
  • Financial Assumptions
  • Frugal Engineering/Citizen Innovation/Crowd-sourced IT applications

Implementation Plan

  • Convergence of Initiatives
  • Alternative Technology/Urban Planning Strategies acceptable to the city
  • Smart Components (Resource Efficiency)
  • Existing Infrastructure Usage
  • Contracts for Hardware & Services
  • Generic Technology Specifications

Innovation & Scalability

  • Best Practices in Consultation with Citizens
  • Environmental Impacts
  • Smart Solutions
  • Scalable within city or to other cities

Process Followed

  • Co-creation (ideas/strategies/implememtation mechanism/financial solution) in consultation with citizens, vulnerable sections, ward committees, area sabhas and important citizen groups
  • Social Media/Community/Mobile Governance
  • Contrary Voices accommodation

The first batch includes a list of 20 ‘Lighthouse Smart Cities’ (table below), which are strategically important for their respective regions – economically, politically or geographically, and will spearhead the smart cities initiative.

City

State/UT

Tier

Resident Population

Ahmedabad

Gujarat

2

5577940

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

1

4646732

Surat

Gujarat

2

4467797

Pune

Maharashtra

2

3124458

Jaipur

Rajasthan

2

3046163

Indore

Madhya Pradesh

2

1964086

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh

2

1798218

Vishakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh

3

1728128

Bhubaneswar

Odisha

2

1618879

Ludhiana

Punjab

3

1618879

Jabalpur

Madhya Pradesh

3

1055525

Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu

2

1050721

Guwahati

Assam

2

957352

Solapur

Maharashtra

3

951558

Kochi

Kerala

2

602046

Belagavi

Karnataka

3

488157

Udaipur

Rajasthan

3

451100

Davanagere

Karnataka

3

434971

Kakinada

Andhra Pradesh

3

312538

NDMC (Delhi)

Delhi

1

257803

 

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

Complementing the Smart Cities Mission is another Government of India initiative, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which is intended to provide water supply, sewerage and urban transportation to every household in 500 urban zones. These zones should meet the following criteria:

  • Population of 100,000 or above.
  • Capital cities/towns of states/Union Territories (UTs) not covered under 100 Smart Cities Mission.
  • All cities/towns classified as heritage by Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD).
  • Stem of main rivers (population 75-100,000).
  • Cities from Hill states, islands and tourist destinations (not more than 1 from each state).

The focus of AMRUT will be primarily on improving service delivery, resource mobilization, capacity building and bringing about greater transparency in municipal functioning of the selected urban zones. Many of the projects undertaken will have synergies and/or similarities with the Smart Cities Mission projects.

Development of Core Infrastructure

The development of core infrastructure will focus on the following aspects:

a.    Adequate Water Supply
b.    Adequate Electricity Supply
c.    Sanitation (Solid Waste Management)
d.    Efficient Urban Mobility & Public Transport
e.    Affordable Housing
f.    Robust IT Connectivity & Digitization
g.    Good Governance (e-Governance & Citizen Participation)
h.    Sustainable Environment
i.    Safety and Security of Citizens (especially women, children and elderly)
j.    Health & Education

These developments will focus on Area-based projects (like converting slums to planned areas, more intensive infrastructure services, central zone developments, co-creation of new layouts), Greenfield developments (in the outskirts of the city) and Pan-City Technology-driven Smart Solutions (for e-Governance, Waste Management, Water Management, Energy Management, Urban Mobility and others). In other words, the strategy of the Smart City Mission can be summarized with the following aspects:

a.    City Improvement (retrofitting)
b.    City Renewal (redevelopment)
c.    City Extension (greenfield development)
d.    Pan City Smart Solutions

The end-goal is to improve livability (by improving quality of living, infrastructure and services, creating new employment opportunities and enhancing incomes) and generating inclusiveness in the urban area.

Sample projects covered under the Smart City mission include:

i.    Mixed land usage for compatible activities, which require flexibility in land usage laws and building by-laws.
ii.    Inclusive housing development, focusing on the economically disadvantaged sections.
iii.    Developing walkable localities to decrease congestion, air pollution and resource depletion and improve local economy, promote interactions and ensure security.
iv.    Preserving and developing open spaces like parks, playgrounds and recreational spaces to contribute to improved quality of life, reduce urban heat island effects and promote ecological balance.
v.    Promoting variety of transport options like transit-oriented development, public transport and last-mile para-transport.
vi.    Citizen-friendly and cost-effective governance (online services) to promote accountability and transparency.
vii.    City Identity development based on its main economic activity and cultural aspects like local cuisine, arts & craft, sports facilities etc.
viii.    Smart solutions incorporating technology in infrastructure and services, developing resilience to natural disasters and cost-efficient usage of resources.

Financing and Execution for Smart Cities

The Government, for now, plans to invest 15 billion USD for Smart Cities (and 7.5 billion for AMRUT), of which 7.2 billion will be invested over the next 5 years. Additional funds are envisaged through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with private multinational firms or banks. Also, the private sector will play the role of contractor/consultant for the projects. Power, ICT and integrated townships will see the maximum impact of the transformation, which also calls for focused financial mechanism in these areas.

Financing Plan for Smart Cities Mission

The MoUD has provided guidelines for creation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for the purposes of planning, execution, release of funds and operation and monitoring of projects. The State/Union Territory government and Urban Local Body will have a sacrosanct 50:50 partnerships in the SPV. Additionally, a private sector or financial institution can hold a stake in the SPV on the condition that the sum total of the State/UT and Urban Board’s stakes in the SPV Limited Company is always greater than the stake value of the private sector/bank.

Key responsibilities of the SPVs are:

i.    Approving and sanctioning projects
ii.    Complying with requirements of MoUD
iii.     Mobilizing Resources
iv.    Appointing third party Review & Monitoring Agency
v.    Overseeing Capacity Building initiatives
vi.    Facilitating inter-linkages of academic institutions and organizations
vii.    Ensuring timely project completion
viii.    Reviewing Mission activities
ix.    Ensuring Quality Control
x.    Facilitating Joint Ventures/PPPs with private sector
xi.    Supervising contracts, partnership deeds and service delivery agreements
xii.    Collecting user charges and taxes/surcharges as applicable for the projects.

Get Me Experts has identified 27 industry sectors from the numerous projects selected and companies shortlisted for the Smart Cities Mission. These sectors can be classified as primary, secondary or tertiary, depending on the level of relevance and supporting skills and services needed. The table below captures these sectors.

Primary Sector

Secondary Sector

Tertiary Sector

Culture & Conservation

Capacity Building

Academia

Disaster Management

Commercial Services

Advocacy

Healthcare

Environmental Management

Analytics

Infrastructure

Project Management

Architecture

Power & Heat

Security Management

Communications & Marketing

Public Services

Resource Management

Consultancy

Real Estate

Technology

Financial Services

Urban Mobility

 

Legal Services

Urban Planning

 

 

Urban Services 

 

 

Waste Management

 

 

Water Management

 

 

 

Funds allocated thus far for projects in the 20 ‘Lighthouse Smart Cities’ include ongoing projects under respective ministries, as well as freshly allocated under the Smart Cities Mission. The figure below is a cumulative depiction of the funds (in Crores of Indian Rupees) under different industry categories

The Smart Cities Mission will cover the 100 cities and its duration will be five years (FY2015-16 to FY2019-20). Evaluation of the Mission will be done by the Ministry of Urban Development after the five years and the mission may be continued further with the learnings obtained. The challenging projects that are being made as part of the Mission will require an investment of USD 1 trillion over 20 years.

For 7 of the Smart Cities, the Government has also signed partnership agreements with three countries, viz., Germany (3 cities), USA (3 cities), Spain (1 city) and Singapore (1 city).

 

Business Opportunities in the Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT

A KPMG Study has identified several Business Opportunities for Smart Cities and AMRUT Missions in the areas mentioned in the tables below.

Business Opportunities: Smart Cities Mission 

(USD 1 trillon at present value terms over 20 years needed)

Smart Governance

Digital India: 83m market

Smart Energy

Energy Storage (USD 10m), PGCI- 26b USD in 5 years, 130m smart meters by 2021

Smart Environment

USD 50b (MoWR)

Smart Transportation

USD 4.13b for 6m electric/hybrid vehicle production (2020), 20b for metro projects (MoUD), Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail (USD 10.5b)

Smart ICT

Cloud Computing- 4.5b market, Safe City Project - USD 333m (7 cities)

Smart Building

11.5m homes every year, Intelligent Building Management Systems - USD 1.9b market

Smart Health & Education

FDI in insurance increased by 49% from 26%, Indian medical devices market - USD 11b by 2023

Business Opportunities: AMRUT 

(USD 15.15 m per city for 500 cities for 5 years)

Allocated Investment

USD 15.15 million per city

Digitization of ULBs

Developing platforms & services

Capacity Building

Specialized Municipal Cadre Training

Water Management

Water treatment plants, Pipelines, Metering, Grid-management solutions, De-siting, Ground-water recharge etc. 

Waste Management

Decentralized underground sewerage networks, Sewage treatment plants, Waste Collection + Transport treatment Integration, Septage Cleaning + Transport Treatment, Storm Water Drainage & Reuse

Urban Transport

Ferry vessels, Pathways, Skywalks, NMT, Multi-level smart parking, BRTS

Green Zoning

Landscaping, Creating green infrastructure (parks, ponds, etc.), Vertical greening

Reform Implementation

Implementation, Consulting, Monitoring & Evaluation

 

Case Studies

CHENNAI Smart City Mission (Tier 1 City): 

Enhanced Mobility | Smart Urban Infrastructure | Resilience to Physical, Social, Economic Challenges | Universal Hub for Safe & Sustainable Living

Salient Features

  • Annual pop. growth rate = 7.7%
  • Industrial, Residential, Commercial establishments
  • Well-connected by rail, road and air
  • IT, Medical, Industrial, Warehouse, Logistics - biggest growth drivers
  • 1240 slums
  • Congested roads and pollution increasing (among highest PM levels in India)

Type of Projects

Electricity T&D, Water Supply, Storm water drainage, Pedestrian Pathways, ICT for non-motorized transport,

Industry Sector

Power & Heat (7), Water Management (8), Transportation (20), Waste Management (4), Technology (5), Environmental Management (3)

Example

Projects

Power & Heat + Urban Planning: Electrical & ICT Utility Corridor

Water Management: 1. Reliable Source Augmentation (desalination plant) for 24 * 7 water supply 2. Storm Water network augmentation

Waste Management + Urban Planning: Network Augmentation/Rehabilitation

Technology: WiFi Zones & Hotspots

 

BHUBANESWAR Smart City Mission (Tier 2 City):  

Transit-Oriented | Livable | Eco-friendly | Child-friendly | Regional Economic Centre

Salient Features

  • Rich cultural heritage + strong economic base
  • Hosts top 5 Indian IT Companies: Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra, MindTree
  • 3rd best city to do business in India (World Bank)
  • One of 4 Planned IT Investment Regions
  • Gateway to Golden Tourist Triangle - Puri, Konark, Chilika Lake
  • Petrochemical & Steel Hubs at Paradeep, Kalinganagar, Dharma & Gopalpur + ports along Odisha coast

Type of Projects

Multimodal Hub Railway + Bus, Urban Mobility (roads, cycle lanes, PBS, E-Rickshaw), Housing for All,  Social Development, Economic Development, Basic Services, Technology For All (wifi, smart metering, digital literacy), Future Proofing (LED Street Lights, Solar Rooftops, Disaster Management Plan), Traffic Management, Parking Management, Bus Service Operators, Common Payment Card, Emergency Response & City Incidence Management, Command Control Centre, Build Basics

Industry Sector

Infrastructure (5), Real Estate (5), Urban Mobility (18), Technology (14), Capacity Building (5), Waste Management (3), Power & Heat (13), Water Management (1), Urban Services (9), Disaster Management (4)

Example

  • Infrastructure: Multimodal Railway Hub
  • Real Estate: Janpath Government Housing Redevelopment (slums)
  • Technology: City Wifi Project, Child App
  • Transportation: Area-based Traffic Signaling & Control

 

BELAGAVI (BELGAUM) Smart City Mission (Tier 3 City): 

Inclusive, Livable, Culturally Vibrant | HEAL- Health, Education, Ancillary Industry & Logistics | Enhanced Transportation | Clean Energy | Safety | Conservation

Salient Features

  • 4th largest & Oldest City in Karnataka (rich history & culture)
  • Business Hub & Education Center

Type of Projects

Neighborhood Governance (multi-utility facilitation centers), Theme-based Heritage Parks & Recreational Spaces, Upgrading Heritage Precincts, Water & Energy Smart Metering, Affordable Housing, Skill Development, Transportation Overhaul, Green City Center, SWM, E-Governance Initiatives

Industry Sector

Architecture (8), Real Estate (8), Infrastructure (9), Technology (10), Waste Management (2), Water Management (5), Urban Services (3), Power & Heat (5)

Example

  • Power & Heat: Underground UG - LT Cabling, UG - HT Line, Solar Rooftop + Wind Farm
  • Transportation: Improvement of Central Bus Terminus & City Bus Terminus
  • Waste Management: Construction of STP, Uncovered UGD, Improvement/Rehabilitation of sewerage lines
  • Technology: Intelligent Traffic Management System
  • Water Management: 24*7 Water Supply 

 

 

DARJEELING (AMRUT, Hill Station):

Better Management of Sewage & Storm Water | Better commutability | Skills & Training

Salient Features

Premium Hill Station in India

Connectivity through Himalayan Railway

Underground Sewage System covers 40% of the city

Type of Projects

Water Supply, Sewerage, Storm Water Drainage, Urban Transport Development, Green Zones Development, Implementation of Reforms, Capacity Building

Industry Sector

Water Management, Waste Management, Transportation, Urban Planning, Urban Services, Capacity Building

Example

Water Supply: SLB = House Level Coverage of water supply connection, per capita quantum of water supplied and quality of water supplied

Storm Water Drainage: SLB = Important parameters like Slope required need to be addressed

Sewerage: SLB = Centralized sewerage and septage management system

Urban Planning: Extension of Green Zones (parks etc.) 

References

1. Smart Cities Mission website of Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Government of India. www.smartcities.gov.in.
2. KPMG, India Soars High, Feb 2016. www.kpmg.com/in.

Urbanization Business opportunities Finance smart city Infrastructure Smart city AMRUT Atal mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

About the author

Bibhash Das

Head - Client Acquisition (Smart Cities) at Get Me Experts!

India,New Delhi

I have expertise in sustainable energy for over 6 years and international experience in multiple domains and roles.

Read my other blogs


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