The Government is on the way to substantiate a concrete infrastructure for e-Governance through the Digital India Program. This will be an essential supportive framework for the successful implementation of smart cities in the country. The Digital India platform will be the base of connectivity between the diverse authorities, public bodies and other private entities in the scenario. The vision of the program is to empower the society through digital means and to drive knowledge economy the country. The program will act as the backbone of information sharing and connectivity in Smart Cities. It will render an effectual impetus to shape up a healthy and aware society. It will facilitate, people’s participation in governance and administrative programs, inducing growth in human and social capital.
Digital India Program and emerging development of smart cities is a visionary step, the synergy of which will break in through the number of issues in urban development. As digital India is centered on providing utility to citizens, offering on-demand services and digital empowerment, the program will be the nexus of public services, public service providers and the public. On the other hand, digital technology being the central avenue to access services and government amenities, Digital India’s role will be consequential in the successful implementation of smart cities.
Technology is among the recent uproars in India, while the government sanctioning 98,000 Cr. for the transformation of 100 cities in the country to Smart Cities. Living and Lifestyle in these cities will be facilitated by intensive use of information and communication technology (ICT). The central concept of these cities is centered on improving lifestyle through efficient management of resources without any wastage. The role of digital technology is critical in this transformation, as it provides the best possible solution to monitor the wide array of aspects of city living and amenities, connecting every citizen to policy-making and administration.
The issue of transportation arises due to unplanned development of urban locales and unorganized service providers. Smart cities around the world such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam have successfully implemented innovative services such as Bicycle as a mode of public transportation. Moreover, mobile apps and web-enabled services are being used for real-time updates about timings and schedules of bus services. Digital technology can be leveraged as the one-stop solution to address the lacunae in the distribution of public services. Resource utilization and distribution monitored through digital devices will make management more effective. Comprehensive management will enable to reduce wastage and offer better services to citizens. Here again, Digital India emerges as the platform that has the potential to transform the entire ecosystem of public services, offering the common connecting link between citizens and authorities
Utilization of digital technologies in regulation, financing, administration, planning, and operations in smart cities will develop the hold of the government in governance. In the meantime, paving the way for a digital living, it will augment a sustainable environment. Digital technology will empower real-time evaluation of public life in the smart cities of India, which will boost safety and decrement crime. Devices like smart meters, camera, and mobile apps will provide complete solutions to solve the issues of urbanization.
In fact, digital feature in Smart Cities is only one among other essentials such as Renewable Energy, Sustainable Environment and the intrinsic correlation between social life and urban planning. It must be understood that only technology cannot be the savior to solve the intricate social economic issues. Smart cities must be materialized by equating the array of critical aspects of society, human development and their relations with technology.
The current IT landscape of India is tainted with weak security and infrastructure and problems such as cybercrime may develop out to be a most important impasse. The government should emphasize on to invent solutions to such riddles beforehand. As programs such as Digital India is going typical, it will also bring forth the risks of attracts, if executed with vulnerabilities. A country such as India is certainly not in a position to endure massive attacks in internet domain as of now, even if it the hacker’s community of the country proves their existence globally every now and then.