UPSC Express

what are Smart Cities?

• A ‘smart city’ is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability.
• It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents.
• There are many technological platforms involved, including but not limited to automated sensor networks and data centres.
• In a smart city, economic development and activity is sustainable and rationally incremental by virtue of being based on success-oriented market drivers such as supply and demand.
• They benefit everybody, including citizens, businesses, the government and the environment.

What are the core infrastructure in a Smart City?

• According to the documents released on the Smart Cities website, the core infrastructure in a smart city would include:
• Adequate water supply
• Assured electricity supply
• Sanitation, including solid waste management
• Efficient urban mobility and public transport
• Affordable housing, especially for the poor
• Robust IT connectivity and digitalisation
• Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation
• Sustainable environment
• Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly
• Health and education