Indore officials gear up for next level of Smart City challenges

With the smart city project under way in Indore, officials are facing challenges in making policy changes, amending building by-laws, re-drafting zonal plan for the commercial hub of the state.

With the smart city project under way in Indore, officials are facing challenges in making policy changes, amending building by-laws, re-drafting zonal plan for the commercial hub of the state.

Graphical representation of Smart city area in Indore (HT photo)

More than 742 acres of land have to be developed according to new standards set by Centre, for which the municipal corporation has to make changes in its building plans, introduce area-specific polices to fulfil the central government norms, said a former town planner, who wished not to be named.

The municipal corporation will have to introduce a transit oriented development policy for low-carbon, high-density, compact, mixed land use and sustainable development of the smart city, he said

“The civic body will have to bring in new floor space index and floor area ratio policy for vertical expansion of the city,”

Talking to HT, municipal commissioner Manish Singh said, “We will have to revise the zonal maps of Rajwada and MOG Lines areas, and make intelligent use of the demarcated land for redevelopment. Some new polices must be introduced at the state level, and some changes in building rules will have to introduced at the municipal level.”

“Things will be clearer after the formation of special purpose vehicle for the smart city project, and after preparing detailed project report. The transit oriented development (TOD) policy will help in the vertical expansion, broadening roads and lanes, promote use of public transport by minimizing travel time for residents,” he said.

“More homogeneous neighbourhoods will be created with work places near residences. Public amenities will be built within walking distances to provide safe environment through redevelopment.”