*IIT-Kharagpur has raised significant concerns about the financial sustainability of Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) in India’s 100 smart cities. These centres, which serve as the nerve hubs for city operations, are facing a critical funding crisis as state governments and municipalities have not been allocating enough financial resources for their maintenance and operation. The study underscores how this financial shortfall could hamper the effective functioning of smart cities and hinder the goals set by the Smart City Mission.*
ICCCs are centralised control rooms designed to integrate and monitor various services and systems that keep a city running smoothly. These include the management of city infrastructure, monitoring civic services, handling traffic and transportation systems, ensuring public safety through surveillance, and even managing disaster risk simulations and predictions. Essentially, ICCCs are vital for the day-to-day functioning and long-term planning of modern urban spaces, making them critical for smart city development. The IIT-Kharagpur study highlights that while ICCCs play a pivotal role in city management, their financial viability remains the “biggest challenge” for the Smart City Mission. The issue arises because the revenue generated from core activities like traffic management and surveillance currently flows into state coffers without being shared with the ICCCs. As a result, these centres are left to bear the huge recurring costs associated with infrastructure maintenance, upgrades, and operations. Without adequate funding, ICCCs are unable to sustain their operations or invest in necessary infrastructure enhancements, thus threatening the overall effectiveness of the Smart City Mission.
The study strongly recommends implementing a revenue-sharing mechanism, where the income generated by ICCCs—such as from traffic fines or surveillance systems—should be directed back to these centres. This would ensure they have the necessary funds to maintain and enhance their infrastructure. Further, the report advocates for the monetisation of infrastructure such as optical fibre cables and suggests that mobile applications should be mandatory for all ICCCs. These apps could serve as a direct point of contact for citizens, allowing them to access urban services and report complaints. By turning these apps into revenue-generating platforms, ICCCs could help bridge the financial gap they are facing. One of the key issues highlighted by the study is the over-reliance on private players for managing ICCCs. The study recommends focusing more on in-house capacity building to reduce dependence on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), who are often brought in for technical expertise. This would allow local staff to take greater control of operations, ensuring sustainability in the long term.
Despite these challenges, the study praises the role of ICCCs in disaster management, particularly in cities like Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Agartala. During crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic, these centres were crucial in disease control and providing real-time information. However, the need to protect hardware deployed in the field from vandalism and theft remains a critical concern. The study suggests that more robust security measures are needed to safeguard this equipment and ensure continuous operation. The financial and operational challenges faced by ICCCs have a direct impact on citizens living in these smart cities. With insufficient funds, ICCCs struggle to maintain and improve essential services, which could lead to disruptions in civic services like waste management, traffic control, and emergency response systems. In cities where smart technology is supposed to enhance daily life, a lack of adequate resources could delay improvements, affect citizens’ quality of life, and potentially undermine trust in the Smart City Mission.
Moreover, a lack of proper funding and infrastructure can exacerbate issues such as slow response times during emergencies, lack of access to updated information, and reduced effectiveness in disaster management. The IIT-Kharagpur study presents a sobering view of the financial challenges facing India’s smart cities, particularly the Integrated Command and Control Centres that are vital for their successful operation. While the study offers valuable recommendations, the key to overcoming these challenges lies in ensuring that these centres receive sustainable funding and are empowered to function independently. Only then can India’s smart cities realise their full potential and deliver the services they were designed to provide.
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Quelle/Source: Urban Acres, 30.12.2024
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