Employing technology to enhance urban services: Babla at Dubai summit

The Municipal Corporation and the UT Administration are actively working on making Chandigarh the most attractive place to live, said Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla in her address at the Asia-Pacific Cities Summit 2025 in Dubai today.

She said the key areas that the MC focused on were social and cultural vibrancy, education and healthcare and Smart City initiatives. “We are using technology to enhance urban services like traffic management, waste disposal and public safety. This creates a cleaner, safer and more efficient environment for everyone,” said the Mayor.

Babla added, “We recently introduced the Chandigarh Startup Policy 2025 to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit. We want to empower IT professionals to not only join established companies but also to build their own. Our primary competitive advantage is the ‘Chandigarh model’ itself — a unique combination of urban planning and quality of life that no other city can replicate.”

She said Chandigarh’s master plan, designed by Le Corbusier, offered an unparalleled quality of life that was fundamentally different from other tech hubs. “Unmatched urban design, green spaces and clean air along with safety and security make the city different. The Mayor said Chandigarh was conceived as the dream city of India’s first Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, and crafted by celebrated French architect Le Corbusier. “More than just a point on the map, Chandigarh is a living symbol of vision, resilience and modernity,” said Babla.