Smart City Mission director shares city’s journey at symposium

Sanjay Goel, chief architect of Designex Architects and former director of Ludhiana Smart City Ltd, delivered his presentation at an international symposium on “Smart Sustainable Green Cities— Enhancing Urban Resilience and Sustainability” through India-UK collaboration held at Munjal Birmingham City University Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Ludhiana.

The symposium is supported by the British Council and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

The project team comprises Dr Vahid (UK), Dr Abdul Hamal (UK), Dr Neeta Raj Sharma, Dr Suruchi Jindal, Cham Atwal, Dr Samta Suresh, Dr Prem Kumar and Col CM Lakhanpal.

Today’s keynote speakers in the first session were Dr Neeta Raj Sharma, Karolina Medwecka and Sanjay Goel. It’s a three-day symposium and many more leading experts will share their experience on the second and third day.

The theme areas are “Urban Resilience, Technological Innovation, Environmental Sustainability and Inclusive Governance”.

Goel shared the journey of Ludhiana smart city, covering every project undertaken along with its photographs and achievements. He highlighted that funding under the Smart City Mission is much less as Rs 100 crore each year was being paid by the state and Central governments.

Goel highlighted that sustainable city is one that can meet the needs of its present population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept is built on achieving a delicate balance between three core dimensions — economic vitality, social equity and environmental protection.

Goel also explained that all cities are upcoming smart cities. He also explained that it is a continuous process at least for one decade till the target of best liability in all upcoming smart cities of India is achieved.

Not only the district administration but the state as well as Central governments must look into the problems of the cities and sit together with expert town planners and architects to solve chronic problems so that people can enjoy not only smart education and smart health, but everything else in the cities.