Three of the EU’s biggest economies — Germany, UK and France — will have a big hand to play in the transformation of nine Indian cities into Smart Cities. Germany will develop Kochi, Bhubaneswar and Coimbatore, UK will transform Pune, Amravati and Indore and France will lend its support to Nagpur, Chandigarh and Puducherry.
The three European giants bring to the table extensive experience in urban development and smart city transformation which is bound to a give a fillip to India’s Smart City program.
Specifically, the selected cities will gain from the experience of the European economies in the following domains: affordable housing, solid waste management, security, education, healthcare, traffic management and parking.
Their expertise spills over to boosting IT connectivity, developing e-governance and ushering in citizen participation in projects. The three countries have committed to providing the best of their support in the identified areas.
What other individual strengths do these EU nations provide?
Germany has demonstrated expertise in Placemaking (a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces). Telekom City Friedrichshafen in Baden-Wurttemberg has been one of the most comprehensive German smart city projects, and has been monitored and tested for smart city applications in e-government, e-ticketing and networked homes.
UK has entered into a five-year partnership plan to develop its selected cities. The main focus is on improving mobility, infrastructure and education though expertise in Placemaking, infrastructure, project management and financing, digital, and social services.
France has signed memorandums of understanding with the Maharashtra government and the Chandigarh and the Puducherry administrations. France will draw from its experience in developing the Alpine town of Grenoble, the largest and most diversified project amongst 13 French ‘EcoCities’, a shining example on how to cut pollution and CO2 emissions. France has signed memorandums of understanding with the Maharashtra government and the Chandigarh and Puducherry administrations.
