After MS, IBM to join Surat smart city effort

SURAT: After Microsoft, the US-based global technology giant IBM has offered to join the Surat Smart City project.
Company executives and officials of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had detailed discussions in New Delhi last week to explore areas in which IBM could partner. “We require smart solutions for mass transport and traffic management. These areas are high in priority,” said municipal commissioner Milind Torwane who attended the meeting.
Despite having the highest number of flyovers — 18 operational and 22 proposed — in Gujarat, severe traffic congestions choke Surat.
IBM has implemented smart technology solutions in traffic movement, urban infrastructure and public utilities in several countries and Surat is expecting the company to emulate some of them here.
It was during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-day visit to the US in September 2014 that IBM CEO Virginia Rometty showed keen interest in providing software for India’s Smart City and Digital India initiative. “IBM had initially selected Ajmer, Allahabad and Vishakhapatnam to provide solutions. However, it has added Surat to the list,” said an SMC official.
According to IBM, India will need at least 500 new cities in the next 20 years considering that every minute during the next 20 years, 30 Indians will leave rural India for urban areas. The partnership is expected to be finalized after another round of talks in the next fortnight.