As the seat of India’s political power, the area that comes under the New Delhi Municipal Council’s jurisdiction, with Lutyens’ Delhi at its epicentre, has arguably the most number of VIPs per square metre than any other place in the country.

But that’s not its sole claim to distinction. The 43 sq km of NDMC area is also rich in heritage sites, cultural centres, classy bungalows, an enviable green cover and Connaught Place, the thriving business hub.

But even given all these, and a metro rail network that lays claims to being world class, the living standards in this municipal area don’t quite measure up to what one might reasonably expect of a globally benchmarked capital city.

The air pollution is among the worst in the world, prompting extreme administrative experiments such as the odd-even number-plates for private cars. Traffic and parking are daily hassles; there is inadequate last-mile connectivity from metro stations; and street hawkers make a mockery of NDMC’s ambitious plans.

But there are those who believe that with the right policy actions, and with a bit of behavioural change in society, things can be turned around.

Learning from Singapore “If you went to an old building in Singapore, the elevator would have a sign that said, ‘Urination in the lift is prohibited’,’’ notes Jaijit Bhattacharya, Partner, Infrastructure and Government Services, KPMG in India, the consultancy that prepared NDMC’s ‘smart city’ proposal.

Also read:A smart city in 1,000 days: NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar

Singapore, says Bhattacharya, used to face severe hygiene challenges, but transformed itself into a squeaky-clean city. “What’s stopping us from doing the same?” asks Bhattacharya.

Other minds too have been preoccupied with the question. And the NDMC’s smart city proposal aspires to shoot for that global benchmark.

Under the proposal, the New Delhi City Centre, encompassing Connaught Place and surrounding areas over a 550-acre expanse, will be ‘retro-fitted’ to transform it into a ‘world-class urban area’.

The four pillars What will it entail? The blueprint talks about strengthening four pillars: physical infrastructure, which includes smart parking, smart grid and energy management, water and waste-water management, rooftop solar panels, a command-and-control centre, and smart digital screens; social infrastructure, which will tackle hygiene, education and health; value infrastructure, which aims to establish the city’s culture and identity; and e-governance infrastructure.

Bhattacharya offers a simple illustration of a ‘smart’ solution. The consultancy received feedback from people that public toilets are dirty and unsafe, especially for women.

“You can’t just install a better toilet and ask people to use it,” he says. “We want to turn it into a ‘smart hygiene centre’ by monetising the land value and leveraging it to generate more footfalls and improve safety.”

To do that, the planners decided to install an ATM, which would also bring in revenues. “We also provided for a pathology lab, which will ensure that hygiene is maintained,” he adds.

To top it all, they provided for a flower shop, which will elevate the aesthetics of the place. “And we put solar panels on the rooftop.”

There are many such smart measures that the NDMC wants to implement. NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar has set himself a 1,000-day timeframe to achieve the mission goals. “Being a small body with good financial health will be an advantage in the implementation,” he notes.

NDMC has been debt-free since 2009-2010 and its annual budget has been generating surpluses for four years. It also boasts of ‘AA’ credit rating from Fitch India; this is the highest rating an urban local body can get.

Behavioural change But, funds aside, the NDMC faces other challenges. Behavioural change among people, governance structures and operations and maintenance will be the top three challenges for implementation, says Bhattacharya.

Residents too flag behavioural change as a critical necessity. Rohit Agarwal, who runs Bangla Sweet House, an iconic food joint in Gole Market, says: “In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, our area is well provided for. For example, there are many dustbins; if the place is still not clean, it is because of the residents.”

Another critical area is waste management. NDMC doesn’t have its own waste disposal site. “It banks on the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. NDMC generates a lot of packaging-related and food waste. It must also look at decentralised solutions such as decomposting,” says Suneel Pandey, Director, Green Growth and Resource Efficiency Division, TERI.

With an array of solutions promised in the next three years, how will Lutyens’ Delhi change under the smart cities mission? “In the medium term, we will see a movement towards non-polluting vehicles, a friendlier and more vibrant city, a greater feeling of community, which will make the city a melting point of nationalities,” Bhattacharya says.

And what are the chances of success? “The measures that we have put in the proposal are 200 per cent realistic as long as political and governance issues are managed,” he adds.

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