“Smart city means liveable city, lovable city”
The event was to showcase the innovation in the space of smart cities globally. The focus of the event was on the imperative need to empower cities and therefore to empower the people
JAIPUR: The Pink City hosted Smart City Expo India 2018 from September 26 to 28, 2018. The event was held at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) in Sitapura, and was organized jointly by Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), Fira Barcelona International and Quantela Inc. The event was inaugurated by the Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu along with the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje Scindia and the Union minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President said, “Firstly, what is a smart city! Smart city means liveable city, lovable city. We must make a city liveable, comfortable and happy. A smart city needs smart leaders at various levels. A smart leader doesn’t mean the leader with height, weight, suit, boot and hat. A smart leader means the one who has a smart vision, smart implementation and smart execution. A smart city not only requires presidents but also the residents and dissidents. They all must coordinate and work together because without their cooperation, the smart cities are not possible. “Sab kaam Sarkaar karega aisa nahi chalega”. I am speaking this because I have experience of 40 years in political life. India’s urban affairs were in a mess for long. This is not to criticize any government. We have neglected it. But now, fortunately, there is a new awareness that has been taking place and lot better actions have been taken by this government and the
previous one also. The Government launched complementary schemes like AMRUT, HRIDAY, Clean India and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana with a target to provide a house to every family by 2022. Urban resonance is taking place now in India. India is now being recognised internationally. People are willing to come and invest in India.” Meanwhile, talking to Urban Update, Union minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri said, “When Smart City Expo India 2018 I became a minister in the central government, at that stage the smart city project was just taking off. The contract at that time was just of `8,000 crore and today it’s over `40,000 crore which is five times more. The smart city projects take more time to start. People think it’s easy but it’s not. They think that our ministry works in the same manner as others because they do not have experience before as the smart city project was introduced for the first time
in the history of India.” Representatives of several government bodies, companies, industry experts, policy makers, entrepreneurs, research centres, innovators and approximately 6,000 delegates from more than 20 countries including Spain, Hungary,
Egypt, Malawi, Brazil, South Africa, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Lebanon and Palestine participated in this mega event. The main motive of the event was to showcase innovation and ideas in the field of ‘Smart Cities’ globally, encouraging the innovation
and ideas on currently running smart city projects in various cities, and also to provide solutions for the challenges that cities are facing in terms of efficiency, urban planning, and social and economic development. The invited dignitaries and experts discussed on several topics including innovation, technology and digital governance, the future of mobility and urban planning, social development, smart destinations, clean tech and
circular economy, smart village, and much more. After this mega show, in the closing
ceremony several awards were given to the new start-ups, business entrepreneurs, digital innovators, research centres, universities, civil society representatives, NGOs, public
and private sector consortiums, and social activists with innovative ideas, visions, and solutions for the effective management and development of urban and semi-urban areas.