Lucknow as smart city- a SWOT analysis

Lucknow is the seat of governance for a state that has a population of 215 million spread over 246,000 square km. Demographically, Uttar Pradesh would be the fifth largest country behind China, the rest of India, United States and Indonesia. To put things in perspective, areawise, UP is as large as the United Kingdom, but has population equivalent to that of the UK, France and Germany put together. UP sends 80 members to the lower house of the Parliament (total 543 seats) - more than any other state.

It is also an important producer of wheat, rice and sugarcane, and its economy has the potential to match up to its area, geography and demography. The Economist (undated) has interestingly compared Indian states to other countries in terms of economy. In its analysis, it compared UP’s economy, for its sheer size, to that of Qatar’s and its per capita to that of Kenya – thus highlighting the untapped potential.

The state capital has a population of 2.8 million (2011 census), which doubled over twenty years. Lucknow also sees a constant stream of migrants who come here seeking amenities, education and health facilities that otherwise lack in the state. This has put immense pressure on the infrastructure and resources.

The literacy rate of 82.5 % is significantly higher than the national and state averages, and the city also has a high penetration of internet usage (1.9 million users).

According to official statistics, the transportation here is primarily based on private resources - 47% using motorised and 33% using non-motorised forms of transport. Only 3% people use public transportation.

A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis was included in the bid submitted to the centre for the Smart City challenge. The analysis was based on the official Mygov.in polls, offline polls and meetings held on the subject. It is somewhat reflective of the aspirations of the people and how they perceive Lucknow.

Aggregating the data, the respondents listed many strengths, enumerated here: Heritage value including historical monuments, gardens, and art and craft; the city being a regional hub and a seat of education; and being an administrative capital close to the national capital New Delhi.

The weaknesses highlighted were: Deficiency in feedback mechanism and human interface, resulting in less than optimal governance; qualitative and quantitative deficiency in public transport accentuated by an increase in population; poor sanitation including lack of proper toilets and mechanism for disposal of solid wastes; and haphazard and unregulated parking and encroachments.

Respondents were also asked about various opportunities and they included the following: Good air, road and railway connectivity; being located in the centre of UP; and being a part of the heritage arc and the gateway to the revered Buddhist circuit.

With its high literacy rates and internet penetration, it was also felt that Lucknow could be a springboard for digital technology application for ensuring better service delivery. Lucknow was also seen as a potential hub for employers with its high number of educational institutions and the availability of a smart workforce.

They also highlighted the potential of River Gomti, using its water for recreational purposes and sports, and for adding to the city’s beautification. The respondents also urged on the need for better waste management so that the river water was not polluted. In addition, they highlighted the potential for upgrading and renovating the city parks, many of which are in a state of neglect.

Finally, threats were also enumerated. These included: migration - and mostly from the unskilled sector - placing pressure on existing resources; unemployment and the skilled workforce migrating out to other places; rapidly depleting water table and unregulated water usage; unplanned construction and encroachment; rising air, noise and water pollution; and increased pressure on traditional energy resources.

(Extracted from a paper submitted by Dr Neil Jain IRS as part of his Chevening Gurukul Fellowship Programme 2016 at King’s College London)