Kazan Smart City

Kazan Smart City

A massive urban infrastructure, similar to Modi’s Smart City mission is India, the Kazan Smart City will greatly expand roads in education, healthcare, technology, business and tourism. Located in Kazan, it will boost Russia’ status of a nation, welcoming to foreign investment and creating special economic zones. The aim of this project is to build smart, socially attractive modern city that will stimulate the economic development of the entire region of Tatarstan. Kazan is Russia’s 8^th biggest city and is a new site for IT firms and BPO businesses.

The site is said to be spread over 650 acres. It is well accessible by the international airport near it. “The first stage of building out the infrastructure and accommodation should be completed by 2015, and a total of $10bn will be INVESTED by 2020 to complete the city, if everything goes according to plan. There are three main areas: an education complex, a business complex at the heart of the city, and the high-tech park in the southern part of the city. And 16 plots have already been taken.” (Bne)

Narmada Canal Solar Project

Narmada Canal Solar Project

Utilizing the 19,000 km network of Narmada canals across Gujarat for generating solar power, the Narmada Canal Solar Project launched in 2012, is said to be one-of-a-kind project in India. It was commissioned within just 1,000 days of its inauguration. It will generate 1.6 million units of electricity per year. The following are the advantages proclaimed by the government:

·         The panels are built over the canal to ensure that around 9 million litres of water does not evaporate.

·         According to the government the entire length of SSNL canal network in Gujarat is around 19,000 km and even if 10 per cent of it is used for this type of projects it could generate 2,400 MW of clean energy annually.

·         The project will eliminate the need of 11,000 acres of land required for a solar project of this magnitude and save 2 billion litres of water annually.

·         It has the potential to bring down per unit cost of clean energy from solar panels to between RS 8 to RS 8.50 in future.

This is a great initiative for India. It’s a prime example of an infrastructural project which focuses on eco-friendliness. 

Interceptor Sewer System

Interceptor Sewer System

The Interceptor Sewer System, aiming to intercept or connect three of Delhi’s posh areas’ drains Najafgarh, Shahdara and Supplementary, is expected to reduce pollution levels on river Yamuna drastically in Delhi. It is expected to reduce 40 parts per million (ppm) at present to about 12 ppm in water.

Only treated effluent will be processed here; untreated effluent will be processed at the main Sewage Treatment Plant. It is believed to help more than 70% of Delhi’s population and the tourism industry in Delhi. 

Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant

Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant

A coal powered plant, the Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant, built by Tata Power is expected to provide 4000MW in total. The coal is imported from Indonesia and the water from the Gulf of Kutch. This is seen as a great initiative to increase private participation in the sector. It is expected to provide power to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra in western India and Haryana and Punjab in northern India. It is expected to cater to the needs of more than 15 million citizens. It also helps to increase competitiveness among the manufacturing & services industries in these regions. The technology used for this plant is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and saves fuel from conventional sources of energy.

This project also will create 800 jobs and increase India’s power generation capacity by 2%. It is said to be an efficient project as it was completed well in time. “The plant is more efficient than any other subcritical power plant in India, and will avoid discharging 3.2 million tons of CO2 emissions every year, which otherwise would be produced when using conventional sub-critical technology. This is the first time that 800 MW supercritical technology has been successfully implemented in India.” (Ifc)

Delhi Metro

Delhi Metro

After long demands of solving traffic & infrastructural problems, a rapid transit system has been placed in Delhi, the “Delhi Metro”. There is no need to explain why the capital needs a metro: increasing population, traffic, pollution etc. Only the Delhi Metro could solve such problems and save residents’ time, energy, and resources. There is also the added advantage of convenience, an individual can reach time on time without delay.

But there are might be some disadvantages: noise coming from the train itself and from the crowd; overcrowding – There are lots of people who ride the subway, and if you are claustrophobic, riding the metro is not definitely for you and rise in crime – sometimes mugging and physical assaults when riding the metro above and below ground is rampant in a lot of areas which makes it scary. (Thetransportationgazette)

Also, it gives the much-needed up gradation of the city of Delhi from a modest, historical, cultural town to a modernized, stylish metropolis, catering to the youth population. This rail system can reimage “Delhi Brand”. 

Yamuna Expressway

Yamuna Expressway

A 165m long, 6-lane expressway connecting two important cities of India, Noida and Agra, the Yamuna Expressway is proving to be indispensable in its function. It is actually one of the quickest project to be completed in India (two years before its target).

Its greatest advantage is its reduction of time of travel to 90-120 minutes. It has increased accessibility to the capital of the country, Delhi. It has led to a residential boom with an estimate of more than 20,000 plots to be constructed.  It also has led to development of underlying areas there. It also benefits the tourism industry, with an increase in frequency of visits to the Taj Mahal. (Not to forget the fact of Jaypee Raceway Course) “Substantial investments have been planned for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and recreational developments on the vast tracts of land on either sides of the Expressway, some of which are already under way, which should catapult the region into the next pedestal of development and growth.” (Yamunaeay)

Other benefits include decongestion, reduction in traffic and pollution, integration with national security systems, facilities along the expressway etc. 

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City

One of the smart city, proposed by PM Narendra Modi, under construction, the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City can challenge Mumbai as the country’s premier financial centre when finished. Aimed to provide high quality facilities such as water & sanitation, power, roads, telecommunications etc., it will also have a special economic centre (SEZ), information centre, entertainment centre and a knowledge capital. There are financial incentives given to businesses starting operations here such as exemption of sales, customs, purchase, excise taxes etc.

There are other advantages: this city would not be so integrated with other global economic capitals of other countries; so it cannot be affected by financial crunches. It can provide more than 500,000 jobs and occupies an area of 5.76 million sq. m. Thus, it can also create a real estate boom.  “Given its emphasis on technology, zoning and environment-friendly construction, GIFT can also serve as the prototype on which the promised smart cities of the future can be modelled.” (The Hindu)

For the common man, it can create jobs in various sectors especially in finance. It will open many major administrative reforms and will be the first “Smart City” in India