Smart City

The recent announcement of establishing 100 smart cities would write a new chapter in the urban development in India. And if everything goes as per plan, the twin cities in UP - Noida and Greater Noida, may become India's first smart cities. This urban agenda is inextricably linked to the vision of Horizon Concept of creating centers for investments and inspiring Tomorrow. 

A 'smart city' is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability. It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents.    

According to the Smart Cities Council, all the data that is collected from sensors – electricity, gas, water, traffic and other government analytics – is carefully compiled and integrated into a smart grid and then fed into computers that can focus on making the city as efficient as possible.

Though this may sound futuristic, it is now likely to become a reality as the ‘smart cities’ movement unfolds in India.

The cities with ongoing or proposed smart cities include Greater Noida in NCR,  Kochi in Kerala, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Aurangabad in Maharashtra, Manesar in Delhi NCR, Khushkera in Rajasthan, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Ponneri in Tamil Nadu and Tumkur in Karnataka. Many of these cities will include special investment regions or special economic zones with modified regulations and tax structures to make it attractive for foreign investment. 

Smart Cities will help manage our resources and protect the environment; it will support innovative web entrepreneurs, and stimulate an app economy worth millions of jobs. It will ensure lives that are more convenient and more pleasure, because smart cities are about improving public services. They are about integrating previously separate services, like transport and energy. Horizon Concept welcomes Centre's decision to bring about this change and empowering citizens with the tools to take control of their lives and build a better future for the country.