In a significant development, the State government has roped in global computer networking major Cisco to implement a ‘Proof of Concept’ of its Smart City model on M.G Road.
The Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) Department issued a G.O. on Saturday, facilitating what was named the ‘Golden Mile Project Vijayawada’.
The tie-up is the culmination of a series of discussions that the Information Technology & Communications and MA&UD Departments has had with a Cisco team from Bangalore. Cisco will be the lead partner supported by e-Centric Solutions, a group company of Paradigm IT. Of the total project cost of Rs. 7.91 crore, Cisco will contribute Rs. 3.81 crore in the form of materials and expertise, and the balance (Rs. 4.10 crore) will be chipped in by the government and the VMC.
The VMC will provide Rs. 62 lakh (Rs. 20 lakh for developing a city portal and Rs. 42 lakh towards LED lighting), while the IT&C Department will meet expenditure to the tune of Rs. 48 lakh towards third party services, Smart City app development and maintenance and man power charges and the balance (Rs. 3 crore) will be funded by the MA&UD Department.
Cisco had, in line with its commitment to collaborate with the Government of India in realising its vision of a Digital India, announced the ‘Cisco Smart City’ as a blueprint for future smart and connected communities, in Bangalore late last year. Using the Internet of Things, Cisco had showcased how connected education, healthcare, smart buildings, connected transport and smart parking can transform the way cities and communities are designed, built and renewed to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability.
The Golden Mile Project will set the tone for similar projects in Andhra Pradesh, which has at the moment only three cities – Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Tirupati – in the frontline of Smart Cities short-listed in the country for provision of modern facilities and innovative solutions for an improved governance ecosystem.
Vijayawada has been left out of the race in the first phase of the Smart Cities programme, but the Golden Mile Project comes as a fillip for its development.
MA&UD Department issues GO., facilitating ‘Golden Mile Project Vijayawada’
Published - October 04, 2015 12:00 am IST
