Smart city Lucknow? Citizens’ aspirations, recommendations

While there are multiple mechanisms to design smart city solutions, the SWOT analysis based on the feedback of citizens is a realistic and participative mechanism for making recommendations for Lucknow. A few of these, which are practical and not capital intensive, are discussed below.

GOVERNANCE

One of the key weaknesses mentioned by citizens was the lack of transparency in governance and deficiency in feedback mechanisms for participatory governance. A key component for implementing smart city reforms in the city and also to administer Lucknow, asasmart city, would be to introduce a directly elected empowered mayoral system. Although Lucknow has a directly elected mayor, the post is ceremonial. It is imperative to reorganise the mayoral structure in the city, empower it and make it responsible and answerable to the citizens.

Major cities across the globe have powerful mayors who are able to change the course of their cities. Rudy Giuliani in New York and Ken Livingstone in London have demonstrated the effectiveness of a good mayoral system. In London, policing, fire, emergency, transport, economic development and strategic planning all fall under its purview.

In India, a private member’s bill has also been introduced in Parliament with an aim to strengthen urban local government. So the political will is gaining ground, and it is hoped that eventually we will have substantive reforms in this area.

TRANSPORT MGMT

As mentioned earlier, only 2% Lucknowites use public transport. Walkability is at a low 40% and about one in four respondents mentioned this area as a weakness in the SWOT analysis.

While Lucknow is now implementing a mass rapid transport railway metro system, it is imperative that there is an efficient public transport system of buses with well delineated routes, with GPS markers enabling real-time tracking for expected arrivals at designated bus stops. River Gomti cuts through the city west to east and so far, waterway transport has not been given due importance. Without having to invest in new infrastructure, pressure could be taken off land transport by promoting this mode.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The need for energy conservation and efficiency was clearly expressed by residents in the consultation exercise. It is necessary that the city promotes LED lighting for public areas and incentivises private use of LED through attractive schemes in utility payments.

WATER CONSERVATION

This is an important area of concern highlighted by citizens. Climate change has been affecting geography the world over and Lucknow is no exception. Monsoons bring in short but very sharp spells of showers and with an unplanned construction boom, water-logging is becoming a frequent menace. Water drainage needs to prioritised and excess water should be discharged into the water table. Private households may be persuaded to implement water harvesting through financial incentives imbedded in utility payments. This will help to revive the rapidly depleting water table.

SANITATION

The country has already embarked upon a ‘Swacch Bharat’ mission and citizens have highlighted sanitation as a threat in their feedback.

Apart from building toilets, the sewage pipe system needs to complete along with modern refuse collection, recycling and disposal system. Litterbins, conspicuous by their meagre presence in the city, should be given a priority with citizen education and encouragement to use them.

CONCLUSION

It will be worthwhile to study global best practices, and formulate a set of standards, which will form the template for smart city solutions in Lucknow. It should be borne in mind that adequate space should be given for data analytics and to engage the citizens, so that Lucknow is smart for all its citizens, making it a livable, convenient and environment-friendly model city.