US adopts Ajmer as smart city, ropes in Rajasthan Government, USIBC and FICCI

PUSHKAR: Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, minister for urban and housing development (UDH), said that to develop Ajmer as a smart city, it is necessary to first increase job opportunities here. The minister was speaking at the US-India Smart Cities Conclave on Friday organised by USIBC and FICCI. Shekhawat added that a smart city should have security and services and development should be citizen-centric.
This event was organized as a follow up after the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Rajasthan and United States Trade and Development Agency for the Smart City Cooperation Project for Ajmer that aimed to unveil the Smart City development plans for Ajmer and to identify the business opportunities for the US and Indian companies.

State education minister Vasudev Devnani proposed to develop Ajmer as an exceptional education hub. He said that the Center has proposed to open a national technical teachers' training institute in Rajasthan which will be the first-of-its-kind in north India.

Anita Bhadel, state minister for women and child development, proposed a smart city for every citizen and said that companies should talk to people before preparing the proposal. Omkar Singh Lakhawat, president of Rajasthan Heritage Conservation Authority demanded that preserving heritage should also be a priority along with making Ajmer a smart city. Officials made their presentations at the conclave.

Representatives of different companies like P R Menon, director of Integrated Solutions, Key Accounts and United Technologies Corporation made UTC pilot project presentation. Parchant Pradhan of IBM pilot too participated. "The conclave will help in building confidence between the state government and companies," said Navneet Mathur, business associate of US-India Business Council (USIBC).

Business models and financing mechanisms for a smart city were also discussed by representatives of World Bank, International Finance Corporation and Ernst &Young. The discussions were mainly based on integration of information technology, telecommunications, urban planning, smart infrastructure and operations in an environment geared to maximize the quality of life. The delegates, on Saturday, will move around the city to have a first-hand feel, officials of USIBC will also accompany them.