New Delhi: Minister of Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu today reviewed the progress of implementation of Smart City Plan of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and has given a set of directions for making a radical difference to the look and feel of the area so that NDMC area could act as a light house to other smart cities in the making.
Shri Venkaiah Naidu while expressing concern over air pollution and traffic congestion has asked NDMC to convert Connaught Place and Khan Market as ‘No vehicle’ zones through necessary planning for traffic management, parking and last mile connectivity. He suggested introduction of electric vehicles for the benefit of children, elderly and disabled persons.
Expressing concern over poor maintenance, look and feel of road from airport to Connaught Place, Shri Naidu directed that NDMC and South MCD should undertake necessary interventions to make this section a smart road with all necessary features like pathways, landscaping all along the road etc so that it looks world class. He stressed on the need for provision of quality pedestrian pathways and non-motorised transport infrastructure. All roads in NDMC area should be made smart with smart poles, smart bus stops, smart parking, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian and cycle pathways, CCTV cameras, LED lighting, 3D Zebra crossings, steel furniture etc.
Shri Naidu also suggested setting up digital display screens at all major locations to provide information on traffic flows including jams, suggested traffic diversions, weather, pollution and other public information. Similar information needs to be disseminated on a continuous basis through FM and Community Radio, he said, adding that whole NDMC area should be provided with Wi-Fi support.
The Minister said that NDMC shall ensure a visible impact of smart city development by June next year and the whole smart city plan, approved with an estimated investment of Rs.1,900 cr should be implemented by June, 2018.
Chairman of NDMC Shri Naresh Kumar informed Shri Venkaiah Naidu that so far, smart city projects worth Rs.650 cr are already under implementation and work on the remaining would start in the next few months. He further said that a few projects have already been completed and about 25 projects would be completed by June next year. These include:
1.Conversion of all 444 class rooms in NDMC areas into smart ones of which 138 have already been so converted;
2.Pedestrianisation of main markets;
3.Installation of solar panels for generation of 4.50 MW of solar power of which 2.90 MW capacity has already been installed;
4.Setting up of one decentralized Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for providing water for horticultural use;
5.All major roads to be made smart;
6.Setting up of unified Command and Control Centre for monitoring all services;
7.Digital information panels/kiosks at prominent places with high speed internet;
8.Iconic initiatives like Smart Public Toilet Units with facilities like Bank ATM, Water ATM, vending machines etc.;
- Smart bus stops, Pelican crossings, 3 D Zebra crossings, CCTV surveillance, LED street lighting, high quality street furniture;
- Palika Plaza to be provided with facilities like high speed wi-fi, open air cafeteria etc.;
11.Ten multipurpose sports play grounds in NDMC schools which are to be made available for community after school hours;
- Provision of 60 Water ATMs at public places, 59 open gyms, Charkha Museum at Connaught Place etc.
NDMC Chairman Shri Naresh Kumar stated that the Smart City Plan of NDMC is based on four important pillars of Smart Water Management, Smart Energy Grid, Smart Education and Smart Healthcare. He informed that e-Hospital has been launched across the entire areas with three modules viz., Out Patient Division, In Patient Division and Pharmacy module already under implementation.
