Bhubaneswar is the capital of the state of Odisha in India. Known as “the Temple City”, it is an emerging hub for education, health and information technology, as well as a popular tourist destination.
The city has a population of around 840,000 and has won a number of awards and titles.
Bhubaneswar was selected as one of the first 20 Indian cities to be developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission.
India’s Smart Cities Mission aims to create 100 smart cities in the country as a model for development and to bring improvements to nearby cities and towns. A total of ₹98,000 crore ($15 billion) has been approved by the Indian Cabinet for the development of 100 smart cities and the rejuvenation of 500 others over five years. Cities are selected through the Smart Cities Challenge, based on feasibility and potential social and economic impact. Bhubaneswar ranked first in the cities announced in January 2016.
Like all of India’s smart cities, Bhubaneswar’s smart city strategy will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), headed by a CEO. The SPV will have the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) – the urban local body which governs the city – as the leading partner, supported by a Smart City Advisory Forum, an inter-departmental task force, and a range of partnerships.
The strategy is focused on taking a citizen-centered approach, and feedback from local people has pinpointed ‘smart growth’ as the main priority. This includes ensuring sound economic development principles, as well as directing investment towards initiatives that promote “sustainability, inclusiveness, and livability”, and using technology to enable this.
Bhubaneswar has identified seven smart city pillars which align the citizen’s aspirations and needs with city systems.
Stage one of Bhubaneswar’s smart city transformation is focused on mobility and waste management across the city, as well as developing the town center as a smart district.
Bhubaneswar aims to create a “user-friendly transport system that offers citizens a combination of flexibility, intelligence and sustainable alternative modes of travel.”
The city’s integrated land use and transportation strategy includes the construction of dedicated cycle tracks and pedestrian footpaths along key transportation corridors. Bhubaneswar also plans to transform its existing transportation networks and is now asking citizens for their feedback on priorities.
City leaders are keen to implement best practices from other cities globally and have highlighted initiatives such as Bogota’s TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which has reduced travel times by 38% and noxious emissions by 40; London’s Barclays Cycle Hire scheme; the University of Washington’s U-PASS program; and Seattle’s E-Park online parking management system.
Like many growing cities, Bhubaneswar has increasing volumes of waste generated by a burgeoning population. It is looking at ways to better manage trash collection, recycling and sewage, as well as to reduce litter, improve access to public toilets and eliminate open defecation.
Again, the city is looking to learn from global best practices. Impressive initiatives it is considering adopting include the Ecosan Community Compost Toilet in Musiri (Tamil Nadu) which produces bio-gas for cooking, rich compost for agriculture and energy from toilet waste; Belgium’s smart waste scheme which flags when bins need emptying, optimizing collections; and the smart bins at Lotte Department Store in South Korea, which have seen seven daily waste collections cut to one. Citizens are being asked to vote now for the best scheme ideas.
Bhubaneswar is developing a pilot ‘smart district’ which implements smart city tools and solutions in a defined area. The district, voted for by the public, is 985 acres and brings together people, jobs and services and prioritizes walking, cycling and public transport. The aim is to make the district the heart of Bhubaneswar and a hub for people of all ages and incomes.
Although citizen voting is still ongoing around some programs, a number of smart city initiatives are already underway in Bhubaneswar.
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