The term Smart City is confusing; is it the Smart City of Dubai in Kerala or the Smarty City of the Modi government? The central government has already identified Kochi as one of the hundred for the Smart City initiative.
Earlier, you needed to be smart if you were a police officer. At the police HQ in the capital, there was a mirror that helped you to measure your smartness. Any lacking in smartness would promptly be confronted by higher officials.
All over the world, nations are making smart cities as people are moving from villages to cities. It is believed that by 2050, 70 per cent of the Indian population would be residing in cities.
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Smart cities provide various services enabled by the Internet. Sensors that are fitted in buildings offer services on demand. Built in cameras help to reduce crime. Convergence is key and various sections of the government are linked with each other digitally. This means that each section of the government, whether small or big, would be linked to offer services on demand in the best possible manner.
However, each city would be different from each other because of variations in resources, size and population. Even road traffic would be centralised and monitored as in foreign nations. This would serve to reduce blocks and make travel easier.
Singapore is also planning to become smart. However, the facilities already established there has made the job half done.