Experts believe that with enhanced implementation of technological advancements and adaptability, we can transform our urban infrastructural landscape going ahead
Led by rapid advancements in technology, the urban infrastructure ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation. Creating a future-ready environment along with a well-connected system encompassing various basic facilities lies at the evolution towards the vision for smart cities.
While the road to becoming an advanced nation in terms of smart cities may still be long, the experts believe that with resilience, adaptability and enhanced implementation of technological advancements, we can embark on the journey to transform our urban infrastructural landscape going ahead.
“A smart city would mean a city which is resilient because resiliency is a big subject with respect to man-made and natural disasters. Gurgaon is a combination of man-made and natural disasters where we stand there. Resiliency is a subject that can overflow into many areas,” highlighted Ashish Rakheja, Managing Partner, AEON Integrated Building Design Consultants.
Master Plan For Mobility
Highlighting that the issue of proper transport system still exists even in the cities which have been termed ‘smart,’ the experts believe that the biggest challenge that we face is that we do not learn from the mistakes and problems. The industry leaders highlight the need for better implementation of the master plans concerning mobility.
“We should have nice mobility, nice transportation system…The government and the private bodies should have a long-term master plan of mobility, which is not happening. Our governments or private agencies just work on 20-year master plan or maybe 30-year master plan, but it is not happening,” highlighted Alka Joon, CMD, AtoZ Group of Companies.
Effective Technological Implementation
Experts believe that while our cities are not smart in every aspect, there is still a positive side to it. Highlighting that there is a system that is working well, the experts state that a lot of buildings have become green, sustainable and technology-enabled. With the technology implementation and investment that is happening, the possibility of our cities becoming smarter is higher.
“We cannot build a new city altogether, but the ability to adapt to what we need is my definition of a smart city. With a little bit of effort and the technology implementation and investment that is happening, we will see a lot of our cities go smart. But, maybe not smart in terms of every aspect of it. There are certain parts of our life which will become easier,” opined Ajit Kumar, MD-West Asia, JLL.
Managing Building Efficiency
As far as the transformation of buildings into smart buildings through technology is concerned, the experts feel that it works on various levels. From a workplace experience perspective, it involves a wide range of facilities, including smart parking, alternative mechanisms for access cards and so on.
“The way employees feel the building. So whether this is about smart parking, people are not supposed to wait, right? The experience starts once people enter in the morning. Smart parking may be an app which tells me where parking is available in a city like Gurgaon. So, people should be pre-informed about it so that they can manage their schedule,” highlighted Rachna Vatsa, Head- Workplace Management (India), Airtel.
She added that the alternative mechanisms for access cards are also crucial. The mechanism which one has created to ensure that an employee gets a speedy entry in case he or she forgets the access card is equally important.
“Smart cities or smart buildings are buildings or cities that are sustainable, easy, highly efficient in terms of natural resources and the governance that will lead to the smart moving of people with a lot of control on the particular activity by itself, not by pushing,” highlighted Sunil Ralph, Senior VP, Administration, JSW Steel, who moderated the panel discussion where the experts shared the insights at BW Facility Management Conference &40u40 Excellence Awards 2025.
By: Kishan Singh
