By Bizodsha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 28, 2015 : A smart city should focus on smart governance, improved living conditions and more livelihood opportunities to match the growing urban population.

Besides, expansion of livelihood opportunities is a key component for making a city smart. Rapid urbanisation adds pressure to the resource base and increases demand for energy, water and sanitation as well as public services, education and healthcare, Chief Secretary GC Pati said here on Wednesday.

Addressing a conference on Governance in smart cities and intervention of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Pati said the growth rate of population in Bhubaneswar was 3% during 2001-2011 compared to 1.5 per cent for the State.

“The rate of growth would be higher after 2011. As such, the governance in smart city has to address the challenges relating to availability of adequate housing, sanitation, hygiene, healthcare, quick transport and quality power supply. The challenges need to be addressed through social engineering and adoption of ICT in management,” he said.

Pati underscred the need for active participation of citizens saying, “If citizens are callous and do not take ownership in governance, no city can be smart”.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology Department Pradip Jena said Bhubaneswar has entered the final stage of the competition and is one among 20 other cities for inclusion in smart city programme. ICT would play a significant role in smart city governance, he said.

Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department G Mathivathanan said governance in smart city has to focus on finding smart solutions to problems raised by rapid urbanisation and quickest resolution of those issues. The essence of smart city, he said, is improvement in quality of life and living conditions.

The session was addressed by Managing Director of CISCO Systems Aamer Azeemi and Principal Operation Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Navneet Chadha.

The inaugural session was followed by three technical sessions chaired by Development Commissioner UN Behera, Principal Secretary, Industries Sanjiv Chopra and Pradip Jena. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and IFC organised the conference as a part of consultations with stakeholders to work out an effective action plan for smart city.
Senior representatives from State administration, ICT experts, IT companies and Municipal Corporations of Bhubaneswar and Rourkela were present.