India's Smart Cities Mission Spurs Domestic Manufacturing

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

In 2015, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi created the Smart Cities Mission Program, which is an urban improvement initiative. 100 Indian cities were selected to participate in the project after a competitive process that compared funding with each city’s individual ability to comply with the program and reach its goals. The mission aims not only to improve city amenities and services throughout India, but also to prepare for an urban population explosion that’s expected to render huge growth in Indian cities in coming decades. This growth has already begun—an estimated one million people move into urban areas throughout India every single month.

New Smart Cities Projects Fuel India’s Manufacturing Demand

The initiative’s main goal is to improve the quality of life for citizens on a city level. This includes improving public and private transportation, creating energy-efficient public structures, protecting the environment, and improving local government services. The initiative lays special emphasis on creating self-sustaining modern development that will allow for a high population to live well with access to modern technology and renewable energy. Below are examples of how technology has been used for these projects:

• Handling Emergencies: Developing flood monitors and emergency notification systems to provide better emergency response solutions and times.
• Improving Transportation: Implementing systems for public transportation tracking, such as online monitoring and GPS-guided vehicles, to improve traffic and reduce accidents.
• Monitoring Air Quality: Tracking local air quality to prevent exposure to harmful pollutants.
• Protecting Property: Using GPS devices installed in public structures, like garbage cans and lighting fixtures, to record data and send it to a city hub for surveillance.

As of May 2018, more than 1,000 projects had either begun or been fully completed at a local level, with a net worth of more than $7 billion (506 billion rupees). This program has opened new opportunities for India’s manufacturers with the need for new technologies and amenities, especially ones that incorporate IoT (Internet of Things) applications. Businesses in India now have the ability to branch into new avenues, partnering with companies in technology, engineering, and construction. Partnerships with Indian companies are also prioritized and city employment has increased.

The Need for Smart Cities and IoT Technology Expands

By 2025, 34 cities worldwide will have a population of more than 10 million people. To handle this growth, smart cities using IoT applications are being developed around the world. This technology generates data to help cities use their resources more efficiently.

Presently, Asia-Pacific is the region accounting for the largest share of spending in smart city and IoT development. China's government has already selected over 200 cities to initiate smart city projects. Europe also strives to have 300 smart cities by next year, spending at least €1 billion; 78 cities in Europe have already undertaken smart city development. And in the United States, $41 trillion will be invested over the next 20 years to upgrade city infrastructure by increasing the use of IoT applications.

Syrma Manufactures Smart Products for Smart Cities 

Syrma is excited about the growth of smart cities worldwide and the creation of IoT applications. The company recently created eco-friendly inverter controller boards for air conditioners that reduce normal power consumption up to 50%, as well as designed printed circuit boards for internal pollution monitors that are used to control pollutants emitted within power facilities, and power supply enclosures that ensure extended electrical availability in remote areas.

Syrma has also started making and co-creating products for smart street lighting, solar power systems, and garbage collection, hoping to contribute its engineering expertise to create new products that will benefit humanity and the environment.