Smart Cities Catalysing Development Across Uttar Pradesh

With the State government led by Yogi Adityanath determined to transform Uttar Pradesh (UP), Smart Cities Mission is emerging as a ray of hope to realise this dream. As intensive use of smart solutions to develop smarter and sustainable cities in the country is gaining pace, UP is marching ahead in sinc with the time, observe Arpit Gupta and Ahmad Shariq Khan of Elets News Network (ENN).

In recent times, led by Lucknow, numerous Smart City Missions of Uttar Pradesh have rolled out a number of citizen-engagement projects.

To boost the holistic ecosystem of the State’s infrastructure, the Uttar Pradesh Government has roped in many relevant stakeholders, expert urban planners and globally renowned teams of engineers to chalk out plans to transform State’s infrastructure and civic development.

Ever since being shortlisted as a Smart City in 2016 by the Central Government, Lucknow also described as the City of Nawabs, has made efforts to turn around its image and transform the city as a tech-driven city.

Till recently, representing a perfect blend of the old and the new, Lucknow has been known largely for its rich culture, cuisine, linguistic heritage, and tourism

Noteworthy here are innovative developments on projects such as: Integrated Control and Command Centre Smart city surveillance system, smart mobility solutions, traffic management initiatives and initiatives such as Swachhch Lucknow.

Thanks to a proactive State establishment, playing the role of an effective facilitator, the city’s existing infrastructure is dotted with many symbols of innovations.

Right from the steadily consolidating infrastructure i.e. international airports, flyovers, upcoming metro rail, IT parks and real estate development to fast growing social infrastructure, every facet of urban housing is being given a makeover.

A close look offers an insight into how all along, these UP cities besides taking up the developmental plank in a big way, did not lose hold of their respective cities’ old charm and magnificence. Perhaps, this is the best feature of such an innovative way of development.

A cursory glance at Lucknow Smart City Ltd, the designated agency mandated with the role of enhancing the profile of the city as a Smart City destination, offers an interesting insight.

Lucknow Smart City Ltd – A Vision of Holistic Development

“While transforming the Lucknow City into a world-class Smart City, we are also focussing on developing this historic city into an International culture and heritage centre,” says Anil Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow and Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited.

As per the Vision Document of the Lucknow Smart City Ltd (LSCL), this special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed to give impetus to smart city project in the city and synergising solutions for citizens and city is its only motto.

“Lucknow Smart City aspires to leverage its culture and heritage by investing in inclusive and transformative solutions that enhance the quality of life for its citizens,” states the vision document, adding that “addressing the next generation of urban challenges doesn’t mean you have to overhaul the entire city. In fact, our approach toward making Lucknow a Smart City involves improving resource management by adding connectivity and intelligence within existing infrastructure”.

With the aforementioned guiding principle, currently, the focus and blueprint for Lucknow Smart City comprise strategic interventions on four focal points:

Jeevant Lucknow (Liveable Lucknow): Providing better infrastructure facilities to citizens.

Sugam Lucknow (Mobility Lucknow): Improvising the newage transport and mobility factorising the daytoday life of citizens.

Swachh Lucknow (Clean Lucknow): Improving health, hygiene and sanitation practices for maintaining the wellness quotient for city’s citizens.

Samruddh Lucknow (Prosperous Lucknow): Harnessing on its strengths of heritage, culture, handicraft, cuisine and connectivity to encourage tourism by strengthening the support system that eventually facilitates employment (direct and indirect).