MoU for Kovai Smart City innovation lab signed

An MoU was signed between Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation Commissioner Dr K Vijayakarthikeyan and Anandi Iyer, director, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s India office, in the presence of SP Velumani, Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply. The innovation lab will facilitate discussions around smart cities, and elicit participation from other metros across the country. This will also act as a knowledge- hub for Smart Cities as well as a link between India and Germany.

Once investment comes in, the innovation lab will come up in the next three years, complete with various components that go towards building a Smart City.

Workshops for officials and other stakeholders would also be conducted.

The innovation lab will also evaluate and analyse the schemes identified under the Smart Cities banner and call in stakeholders for discussions. The knowledge hub will also study smart cities across the world and evaluate the best practices. Known for applied research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has set up Smart City labs in various cities.

A map will also be created, detailing the investment plans for various projects – such as renewable energy, traffic management systems, water supply, drainage management and integration of all public service line departments and economic development.

Earlier this month, the Centre had asked the states to focus on impact of Private Public Partnership (PPP) based Smart City projects. Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary (Housing & Urban Affairs) wrote to the Chief Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories, urging them to ensure commencement of work by November this year, on 261 impactful Smart City projects in 60 cities, announced during January 2016. In Coimbatore, lake development and non-motorised transport infrastructure have been proposed under Smart City initiative at Rs 526 crore.