The Smart Cities Council has launched Smart Cities Council India (SCC India) with Pratap Padode, President of the Foundation of Infrastructure Research Studies Training ( FIRST ) and the SCC India founder. One of his first objectives will be to recruit Indian smart cities experts to develop a unique Readiness Guide for India that will show how Indian cities can use smart technologies to accommodate large-scale growth and economic development.
After his election in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intent to build 100 smart cities in India.
Contact SCC India
Indian smart cities experts interested in helping develop the Smart Cities Readiness Guide for India should contact SCC India founder Pratap Padode.
Smart Cities Council India expects to catapult Modi's program onto the global stage. With partners that include major international companies –- Alstom, Bechtel, Cisco, IBM and Microsoft among them -- the Indian smart cities space will now have SCC India as a single point of reference to gain knowledge and resources. A SCC India website is currently under development.
Unique, sustainable solutions
"India is the ideal location for a Smart Cities Council. We are proud to partner with entrepreneurs such as Pratap Padode -- along with Indian civil society, scientists and 
engineers -- to develop smart cities solutions," said Philip Bane, executive director of the Smart Cities Council. "With the world’s largest urban democracy, we believe that India can show us unique, sustainable solutions that can be utilized throughout the world."
Padode is architect of the "Promising Cities Report" which cited 20 of India's cities top emerging growth centers. It was released at the 2nd Smart Cities Summit in February 2015 in Delhi. Padode has also organized two summits on smart cities in Mumbai and Delhi and plans to embark on a multi-city tour later this year.
Focus on getting cities ready
"The first mission for Smart Cities Council India is to launch the Smart Cities Readiness Guide for India,” said Padode. "The guide, developed by Indian smart cities experts using local case studies, will enable city leaders and urban planners to understand the comprehensive framework of a smart city and take actionable steps toward major city infrastructure improvements." The Smart Cities Readiness Guide for India will be based on the globally acclaimed Smart Cities Readiness Guide that the Council first released in 2013 and updated in July 2014.
Experts interested in participating in the development of the Smart Cities Readiness Guide for India should contact Padode.
Global Alliances
The Smart Cities Council India is the first to join the Global Alliance of Smart Cities Councils – which provides an opportunity for regional stakeholders around the gobe to affiliate with the Council and leverage its best practices.
