One of the fast growing future smart cities that got selected in the second round of Smart cities challenge, Nashik has been recognized to have immense scope for development and opportunities. With the aim to facilitate further progress towards making cities smarter, BW Businessworld organized 8th Smart Cities Conclave, which featured experts in the field discussing on the opportunities and changes in the direction.
Radhakrishna Game, Commissioner, Nashik Municipal Corporation speaking at the inaugural session on the technology enablement in cities premised with what’s needed for Nashik. He States that beng an ancient holy city and known for Kumb Mela, it is needed that for Nashik there needs to be balance cultural aspect with modernization.
Modernization is synonymous with technology use. Game said, “To meet the tropical challenges, appropriate technologies are being undertaken.” Highlighting on the developments happening in Nashik like the use of bike-sharing, he stated that more awareness programs to make people aware of what is happening.
Moving ahead with the discussion, Vishwas Nangare Patil, Commissioner of Police, Nashik City emphasized on the importance of smart policing in developing a city. He reiterated the full form of SMART as stated by our honorable PM: S stands for Sensitive and Strict, M for Modern and Mobility, A fr Alert and Accountable, R for Reliance and Responsive, T for Trained and Techno-savvy. He reminded the need for having a lot of homework based on local needs with the famous saying 'The more we train in peace, less we bleed in war'.
Addressing the fundamental needs to building a strong city, Vikram Sahgal, Inspector General, Central Reserve Police Force shared that it is the responsive and responsible citizens which help in making a city smart. Moreover, speaking on the bureaucratic actions needed, he stated, “It is correct analysis and timely dissemination of information to right person that is critical.”
Diving even deeper into the discussion by giving a historical perspective, Suraj D Mandhare, District Magistrate and Collector, Nashik pointed out that one of the biggest damages that Britishers did to Indian societies that they compartmentalized it into government, entrepreneurs, etc. “Rather than joining hands, we keep on blaming each other,” Mandhare said.
Development without the consideration of the nature is improper. Leena Bansod, CEO, Zilla Parishad, Nashik stated that smart cities also include smart villages. She reminded that the real issues to be addressed are that of poverty, inequity, underdevelopment, and acute development. “Unless cities and climate resilience are in tune with nature, it is not going to change much,” she said.
Prakash Thavil, CEO, Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation highlighted on the key developments taking place in Nasik (where the forum is organised). Among 53 projects working in Nashik, renovation of Goda ghat and Tarkeshwar Ghat, installation of integrated command control centre are some of the few.
Initiating the inaugural session, Hoshie Ghaswala, CEO, BW Businessworld welcomed the esteemed dignitaries present at the forum. “Nashik has lot of catch up with other cities like Pune and Nashik, and the smart city is on the way to catch up, “ he said.