Growing penetration of over-the-top (OTT) streaming and online gaming in tier-2 and tier-3 locations, along with 5G adoption and artificial intelligence usage, is driving demand for data centres beyond the big cities. Over-the-top (OTT) video consumption and online gaming are on the rise, as a re A I-based applications, all of which are fuelled and maximised by the rollout of 5G across the country. However, all this enhanced internet usage has necessitated data centre players to fast-track their expansion plans. Computing infrastructure in tier2 and tier-3 cities is undergoing a significant upgrade.
Read more: IN: Small-town edge: How 5G, OTT is driving demand for data centres beyond big cities
The National Democratic Alliance government's flagship Smart Cities Mission, launched in 2015, aimed to bring transformative changes in urban governance in 100 selected cities. As the mission draws to a close in June (revised; December 2023 was the first deadline), the performance of the participating cities has been a mixed bag.
A parliamentary panel report tabled last week stated that Tamil Nadu's Madurai was the only city that completed all of its projects by December 2023. Fifty-six cities completed more than 80% of the work in the same time frame. However, in 14 cities, the progress was 50% and below. Port Blair, Saharanpur, Puducherry, Itanagar, Silvassa, Shillong, Atal Nagar, and Gangtok had completed between 16% and 39% of the assigned projects till then, the standing committee on housing and urban affairs stated.
Read more: IN: Three really smart cities and the impact on people’s lives
Located strategically on Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), Dholera Smart City offers numerous prospects
Dholera Smart City, situated in the Ahmedabad district, is a symbol of innovation and economic strength. This city, which is on a peninsula that opens into the Gulf of Khambhat, has scenic vistas that also make it a strategic location for economic growth and innovation.
After the project to install the unique identification (UID) number plates on all residential and commercial properties finally kicked off again recently, now the ongoing survey of properties is moving at snail’s pace.
The officials blamed poor support from public for the slow pace. They said the residents refuse to give information to the private contractor’s team.The officials claimed that people don’t support the survey team because they are afraid of imposition of taxes. The installation of UID number plates was started from Dhandhari and adjoining areas of Block 29 where most of the migrant population resides. They said they feel that after the UID plates are installed they will be on the MC’s radar and will have to pay water supply and other dues. The company which is conducting the survey and taking up the installation work had started installing the number plates outside properties from Nov 4, 2023 but the work was stopped in between due to opposition. Then after convincing the public, the work was initiated again on Nov 6, 2023.
Read more: IN: Punjab: Ludhiana: Survey to install UID number plates moving at snail’s pace
In a first, Lucknow will get artificial intelligence-enabled camera surveillance for the safety of citizens.
A total of 1,000 AI cameras equipped with face recognition technology have been installed at key locations across the city.
Municipal Commissioner and CEO of Smart City Lucknow, Inderjit Singh, said: "As part of the Safe City project, these CCTV cameras have been placed strategically and will capture suspicious movement of persons by scanning faces against police database and alert control rooms in case of any criminal activity."
Read more: IN: Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow under AI-enabled camera surveillance now