Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka, has a rich history and a vibrant present. The city is spread over an area of 800 sq km. It is India’s third most populous city with a population of 8.44 million according to the 2011 census. As of current estimates, the population has grown to 13.19 million. Bengaluru is also known for its thriving industries, which have contributed to its 4th highest
GDP in India of US$110 billion.
The city is divided into 8 administrative zones and 243 wards. Kempe Gowda laid the foundation of the city in 1537 CE. A municipal corporation was established in 1833. In 1905, Bengaluru became the first city in India to have streetlights.
The Vision of Bengaluru Smart City Limited is to create a healthy, connected, and vibrant city that is livable for all its citizens. The BenSCL will be guided by the following key operating principles in its vision and mission:
1. Citizen and Stakeholder Focus: Provide services to citizens and stakeholders and respond to their needs and interests in a respectful, reliable, and professional manner.
2. Environmental Responsibility: Plan and manage operations as responsible stewards of natural resources and the environment.
3. Safety Awareness: Perform work with a high level of safety awareness for ourselves, our fellow employees, and the public.
4. Employee Inclusiveness: Respect and value the contributions of employees because everyone is important to the success of the operations.
The main objective of the Smart Cities Mission is to ensure operational independence and autonomy in decision-making and mission implementation. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will plan, appraise, approve, release funds, implement, manage, operate, monitor, and evaluate the Smart City development projects.
In the approach of the Smart Cities Mission by GOI, the objective is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment, and application of ‘Smart’ Solutions. The focus is on
sustainable and inclusive development, and the idea is to look at compact areas and create a replicable model that will be a lighthouse to other aspiring cities.
Smart Tendersure Roads are designed to provide a safe and comfortable experience for all commuters. Some of the features are as follows:
1. Wide Sidewalk and segregated/shared Bicycle track: The roads have wide sidewalks and segregated/shared bicycle tracks to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.
2. Pedestrians and bicyclists’ prime-focused design: The design of the roads is focused on the safety and convenience of pedestrians and bicyclists.
3. Public transport integration – redesigned bus bay: The roads are designed to integrate public transport, with redesigned bus bays to ensure smooth traffic flow.
4. Motor vehicles-Uniform travel lane width with – street parking bays: The roads have uniform travel lane width and on-street parking bays for motor vehicles.
5. Utilities – Storm water drains, Power, Sewer, Water supply, and OFC lines are provided under the sidewalk with dedicated ducts: The roads have dedicated ducts under the sidewalk to provide utilities such as storm water drains, power, sewer, water supply, and OFC lines.
6. Green Buffers / Landscape provisions have been made on either side of the Carriage Way: The roads have green buffers and landscape provisions on either side of the carriageway to provide a pleasant environment for commuters.
The KR Market redevelopment project aims to revamp the historic market and provide a better experience for all its visitors. Here is an overview of the project:
1. Project Cost: Rs. 38 Cr.
2. Project Overview: KR Market was established in 1928 by Krishnarajendra Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore. It is the hub of economic activities.
3. Amenities: Universal Friendly Building with basic requirements. 168 four-wheeler and 279 two-wheeler parking facilities. Installation of Lifts for ease of Public Movement. Construction of Toilet Blocks. Organised vending plazas. Channelized Loading and unloading bays.
1. The Bengaluru Smart City Limited is building an integrated mobility hub and junction improvement at the historic but congested K.R. Market junction, with an estimated project cost of Rs. 20 crore.
2. The project has been designed to ensure seamless connectivity in and around the area by integrating the junction with transport hubs to promote business and tourism.
3. The plan includes public toilets, a play space for children, and a refuge area for emergency situations.
4. The project also aims to increase vibrancy and placemaking in the area. The modernisation of subways and bus stands is also part of the project.
1. The Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium annex building is being developed by Bengaluru Smart City Ltd. (BSCL) under the green building concept along with the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) to attain a platinum certificate.
2. The project has an estimated cost of Rs. 42 crore and includes amenities such as a 600-seater auditorium, four lecture halls with seating capacity for 50, and one lecture hall with a seating capacity of 100.
3. The building will comprise a reception and lobby area, an observatory telescope, a room for amateur scientists, associated rooms, and parking for 60 cars.
1. The Shivaji Nagar Bus Terminal is a major bus station in Bangalore and is served by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
2. The Smart City Mission has undertaken a project to improve the terminal to connect multiple modes of transportation. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 3.30 Cr.
3. The amenities that are being added to the terminal include pedestrian safety measures, mother care facilities, a waiting lounge, sanitized toilets, and refurbishment of the subway.
1. The Smart City Mission has constructed a mini auditorium that caters to the needs of specially-abled people.
2. The auditorium has a seating capacity of 600 and includes acoustic paneling,stage curtains, and lighting equipment.
3. The project cost is estimated to be Rs. 4.8 Cr.
1. The Smart City Mission has undertaken a project to develop Cubbon Park – Phase A & B in Bangalore.
2. The project aims to upgrade and beautify the existing footpaths, make them disabled-friendly with tactile tiles, rejuvenate the Lotus Pond, redevelop the catchment area for rainwater conservation, create dedicated tracks for jogging and cycling, remoulade the existing jogging trails, and perform landscaping work with fencing.
3. The project also includes the rejuvenation of water bodies such as Kargada Kunte, Lotus Pond, and Dry Pond, nala revetment along with silt trap and silt chambers, and tree mapping.
4. The project cost is estimated to be Rs. 21.28 Cr.
1. The Smart City Mission has undertaken a project to develop Project Rashmi – Women’s Space at Workplace in the ABD area of Bangalore.
2. The project aims to provide a safe and sanitized space for women, facilitate pregnant women and lactating mothers, and serve as a waiting room for women.
3. The project also includes the presence of women in the workplace and the provision of basic amenities at the workplace. The amenities that are being added to the women’s space include a sanitary disposal bin, wall-mounted flap-type child seat, sanitary napkin incinerator, hand drying facility, sanitary napkin vending machine, covered waste dry & wet container, sink with level tap and soap dispenser, paper towel dispenser, nappy changing table with raised edge and wipeable soap mat, signage for baby care room, mini fridge, oven, TV, and AC.
4. The project cost is estimated to be Rs. 2.00 Cr.
5. The Project Rashmi Implemented at the following Locations: Vikas Soudha. Office of Commissioner of Police. PWD & Department of Public Instruction, K.R Circle. The Karnataka High Court
Project Overview: The daycare is for women to ensure the safety of their kids while they are working.
Project Cost: Rs. 0.52 Cr.
Amenities:
o Provision of basic amenities and care.
o Kids-friendly furniture, play toys, resting area.
o Safe and sanitized space for children.
1. Under the Bengaluru Smart City Mission, the Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BenSCL) has taken up initiatives in the health sector to provide medical equipment to government hospitals.
2. The project cost of Rs. 80.48 Cr. will help provide medical equipment such as CT scans, Patient Monitors, HFNC Machines, ICU Coats, Neurosurgical operating tables, Modular Operation Theater, and Ultrasound Sound Machine, etc. to medical institutes like Kidwai, BMCRI, Vani Vilas, Rajiv Gandhi, Gastroenterology, and Indira Gandhi.
3. This initiative will help ensure vital healthcare infrastructure in government hospitals across Bengaluru is maintained and repairs are taken up quickly, without making patients incur out-of-pocket expenditure at private diagnostic services.
1. Under the Bengaluru Smart City Mission, the Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BenSCL) has taken up one of the initiatives under the health sector to provide digital infrastructure to BBMP to monitor COVID-19-related data.
2. The project cost of Rs. 10.83 Cr. will help provide 211 Laptops and 3337 Tablets to Asha workers to monitor and track the COVID-19 patients. Other electronic devices such as desktops, printers, and barcode printers were also given.
3. This initiative will help ensure that the healthcare infrastructure in Bengaluru is maintained and repairs are taken up quickly, without making patients incur out-of-pocket expenditures at private diagnostic services.
1. The Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BenSCL) has undertaken work in the Integrated Mobility sector to promote E-Mobility and electric vehicles under the Bengaluru Smart City Mission at a cost of Rs 40.00 Cr.
2. As part of this initiative, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has been provided with 90 electric buses for the feeder service to Namma Metro for last-mile connectivity.
The BMCRI campus (Victoria Hospital) underwent several infrastructure upgrades under the Smart City program at a cost of Rs 12.67 Cr. The following facilities were upgraded:
1. The internal roads and footpaths were widened and developed.
2. Parking bays and street lights were provided.
3. 6 buggies were provided for the movement of critically ill patients within the campus.
4. A lift was installed in H Block to ease patient movement.
5. Utilities like stormwater drains and sewer lines were laid.
1. Smart Digital Classroom and ICT Labs project has been implemented in BBMP schools at a cost of Rs. 6.41 Cr.
2. The project includes 65 Smart Digital Classrooms and 7 ICT Labs equipped with Animation Software and Chrome Notebooks.
3. The classrooms are also equipped with an Integrated Computer Projector to facilitate interactive learning.
4. The project is expected to benefit more than 15,000 students.
The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) acts as the “Nerve Center” for operations management, day-to-day exception handling, and disaster management. The project cost is Rs. 96.00 Cr and is currently in progress.
● The core functions of ICCC include operations monitoring, planning, incident management, and emergency and disaster management. The outcomes of ICCC include real-time situational monitoring, 24/7 engagement, rapid response to emergencies, KPI monitoring, identifying anomalies and inefficiencies, fostering transparency and accountability, monitoring of city functions, the foundation for further innovation, and control and monitoring of the city field assets.
● ICCCs have been set up in many cities across India under the Smart Cities Mission. They act as the “nerve center” for operations management, day-to-day exception handling, and disaster management. They also provide insights by processing complex data sets at an aggregated level to derive intelligence for improved planning and policy making.
● The ICCC has been implemented in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) headquarters to bring all departments serving Bengaluru city and create a system to address public grievances.
● The ICCC provides a decision support system for the city, which aggregates city-level information to convert it into actionable intelligence and propagates it to relevant stakeholders and citizens in a coordinated and collaborative manner.
● The ICCC has several core functions, including Road Maintenance, Solid Waste Management, Property Tax, Trade License, Storm Water Drains, Street Light, Parking, Health, Direction, and Covid War Room.
● The ICCC has helped foster transparency and accountability, identifying anomalies and inefficiencies, and creating learning opportunities for educators.
ICCC Integrated Command & Control Centre
1. Road Maintenance:
● Historical data
● Inventory
● Ongoing Projects
● Requests and Approvals
2. Solid Waste Management:
• Monitoring
• Vehicles
• Door-To-Door Garbage Collection Information
• Bin Clearance Service Information
• Staff Attendance
• Waste Segregation Disposal
3. Property Tax:
• GIS-Enabled Property Tax-Enabled System (GEPTIS)
• TAX Collection Monitoring
• Defaulters Tracking
4. Trade License:
• Mapping on GIS – No. Of Registered/Approved/Objected /Rejected/ Expired
Zone/Ward-Wise
5. Storm Water Drains:
• Cleanliness Schedules
• Live Monitoring for Breakage/Overflow
• Alerts
7. Street Light:
● ALERTS ON –
o On During Day Time
o Off During The Night Time.
o Analytics Like Consumption Saving
8. Parking:
● Mapping on GIS –
o Mapping The Parking Areas on GIS
o Integrating With Portal/Mobile Application
o Slot Availability
o Parking Area-Wise Revenue Generated
o Alert On Abandoned Vehicles
9. Health:
• Ambulance
• PHC
• Staff Attendance
• Health Services
10. Planning:
• Permissions/Online Approvals / Requests
• GIS Services
11. Covid War Room:
• Data Analytics
The Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) in Bengaluru provides a unified platform for various services such as Analytics and Business Intelligence, Integrated Emergency/Disaster Response Coordination, Integrated Grievance Management, Integrated Mobility Management, and Public Projects Information Management GIS Service-Common GIS for Bengaluru.
● Bengaluru Smart City has launched the initiative One City One Number, which provides a unified platform (IGRMS) with a single number 1533 to register multiple department’s grievances. A 35-seat capacity call center has been established at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which handles an average of 30000 calls per month 24/7.
● Grievance Management Systems of departments like BBMP, BWSSB, and BMRCL were bidirectionally integrated, and BMTC, BESCOM, BCP, and BTP were in the process of integration.
● The Smart Traffic Management System (STMS) in Bengaluru is a project that aims to manage traffic efficiently. The project cost is Rs. 8.73 Cr.
● The STMS is equipped with 1100 body-worn cameras for the Bengaluru Traffic Police and 20 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at junctions.
● ANPR is an efficient vehicle identification system that uses optical character recognition on images to read vehicle registration plates and create vehicle location data.
● The STMS is integrated with the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for smooth management and functioning of traffic.
● The Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BenSCL) in association with The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has implemented Smart Virtual Clinics (SVC) at 28 UPHC locations to ensure that every citizen, in particular the urban poor, is provided with advanced healthcare.
● The SVCs are equipped with integrated medical equipment and provide online maintenance of medical records. Patients can consult specialist doctors from any SVC with the assistance of clinical operators and schedule follow-up appointments.
● The project cost for the Smart Virtual Clinics and Central Clinical Command Centre is Rs. 21.65 Cr.
● The Bengaluru Smart City has set up the Central Clinical Command Centre (CCCC) on the first floor of Janatha Bazar Complex, at Sadhashiva Nagar, Bengaluru.
● The CCCC provides online consultation by specialized doctors with specialization in Cardiology, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, General Medicine, Endocrinology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and General Surgery to all 28 Smart Virtual Clinics (SVCs) at Urban Primary Health Centers (UPHCs).
● The CCCC is equipped with 20 specialist doctor cabins with a dual monitor video consultation facility. Medical devices can be directly streamed to the doctor’s screen for online consultation, diagnosis, and treatment.
● The CCCC also provides digital prescriptions.
● Russell Market is a shopping market in Bangalore, built in 1927 by the British and inaugurated in 1933 by Ismail Sait. It is named after the then Municipal Commissioner T. B. Russell. It has the first streetlight in Asia.
● The Russell Plaza project was taken up by Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BSCL) at an estimated cost of Rs. 7 Cr.
● The plaza development aims to provide easy pedestrian and traffic movement, parking facilities, designated areas for vendors, sanitized toilet facilities, and interactive spaces for the users.
● Urban design features such as a clock tower, fountain, streetlight, etc., have been added for the beautification of this plaza.
● The Smart Digital Classrooms project in Bengaluru aims to provide smart digital classrooms at 220 Anganwadis. The project cost is Rs. 5.26 Cr.
● The ICT-based project would help kids learn, understand, and memorize the concepts through animated videos.
● The classrooms are equipped with an integrated touch panel with Chili Pili Software and provide visual learning for the 3-6 years age group.
● The project benefits approximately 9000 kids of 220 Anganwadi centers and has a great visual impact, personalized learning, and making children self-motivated.
● The Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) project in Gandhi Bazaar, Bangalore, is a G+4 floored project accommodating parking for 128 four-wheelers.
● The project cost is Rs. 22.13 Cr. Gandhi Bazaar is one of the oldest and busiest market areas in Basavanagudi, Bangalore, known mainly for its flower and condiment hawker shops.
● The project also provides dedicated spaces for shops for vendors.
● The India Cycles4Change Challenge is an initiative to inspire and support the cities to implement cycling-friendly initiatives, to encourage cities to experiment mwith cycling, and to build confidence for a city-level scale-up with the goal of learning, rather than planning to perfection. The challenge will prepare cities to implement cycling-friendly initiatives in response to the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown.
● Bengaluru Smart City has implemented a 2.5 km stretch of cycle track in the Central Business District (CBD) area. Bengaluru city has been selected for stage II for further scale-up.
● The Nurturing Neighborhoods Challenge is a 3-year initiative hosted by the Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA in collaboration with the Bernard van Leer Foundation and WRI India. The Challenge enables Indian cities to adopt an early childhood lens in designing neighborhood-level improvements that promote the health and well-being of young children and their caregivers.
● Bengaluru Smart City Limited (BenSCL) in coordination with DULT is working towards the development and improvement of Anganwadi with necessary interventions.
● The Streets for People Challenge is an initiative to inspire cities to create walking-friendly streets through quick measures, in response to COVID-19.
● The Challenge will support cities across the country to develop a unified vision of streets for people in consultation with stakeholders and citizens.
● Streets and public spaces around transit hubs, heritage zones, commercial streets, market areas, recreational corridors, or any high-footfall zones can be considered potential locations for the flagship project.
● Under the Healthy Street concept, Bengaluru Smart City has developed Planetarium Road, Rajabhavan Road, and Commercial Street. Bengaluru city has been selected for stage II for further scale-up.
As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) is encouraging cities to physically transform public spaces.Bengaluru Smart City has taken up various interventions in Public Spaces,
Anganwadi, and public health centers under the Placemaking Marathon such as:
1. Improvement work in Akkitimmanahalli Anganwadi Kendra
2. K.R Market Junction Improvement
3. Indian Express Junction Improvement
4. Improvement work in Balabhavan
5. Pop up Plaza in Hudson Circle
6. Micro Park in Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium
7. Rajabhavan – Planetarium Street Intersection
8. Improvement Work in Ulsoor, Primary Health Care Centre.
Bengaluru Smart City has participated in various Challenge Programs launched by Smart Cities Mission, MOHUA. One such program is the Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP), which was launched by AICTE in partnership with MOHUA in June 2020. The program aims to provide internship opportunities to graduates, towards the fulfillment of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call for Atma Nirbhar Bharat. With the motto ‘Learn Grow Change’, the program is a win-win for ULBs and college graduates. As of now, 99 internships have been completed, and 2 are in progress.
Bengaluru Smart City has received several awards and accolades for its innovative initiatives and sustainable development. Here are some of the awards and recognitions:
1. ISAC 2020 – Covid Innovation Award – Round 3: The India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC) Bengaluru received the Covid Innovation Award Round-3 for developing INDEX Application for Covid-19 management.
2. Ease of Living: The Ease of Living Index (EOLI) Bengaluru emerged as the top performer in the Million+ category.
3. Climate Smart Cities Assessment Results 2.0: MOHUA has announced under the Climate Smart City Assessment Framework that Bengaluru City has been rated with Three Stars with 1271/2800 points under 5 indicators with recommendations.
4. Cycle 4 Change Challenge: Bengaluru is among the cities to which the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has awarded the title of ‘India’s top 11 Cycling pioneers’, an award of Rs. 1.00 cr. to scale up Cycling initiatives.
5. Street 4 People & Nurturing Neighborhood: Bengaluru is among the cities to which the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been awarded of Rs.50 lakhs to scale up Street 4 people projects.
Bengaluru has received several awards and accolades for its innovative initiatives and sustainable development. Here are some of the awards and recognitions:
1. Ease of Living Index 2021: Bengaluru emerged as the top performer in the Million+ Category.
2. SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2021: Bengaluru was ranked 28th out of the cleanest cities with a population of over 10 million and was awarded the ‘Fastest Mover’ Mega City Award.
3. Award For COVID-19 Emergency Management: Bengaluru received a special award for excellent use of IT in the COVID-19 emergency management.
4. Climate Smart Cities Assessment: Bengaluru was rated with 4 Stars in Climate Smart Cities Assessment.
