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- Coming from a tech and data background, how do you interpret the term “smart infrastructure” in today’s Indian context?
The urbanisation of the world is no longer a necessity; it is an inevitable reality. With an ever-growing population and other challenges pertaining to resource management everywhere, smart infrastructure would be the most effective and user-friendly adaptation of technology and AI into urban planning and automation in resource management. If the infrastructure community and responsible leadership work closely with the government, we can work on making this integration smooth and affordable.
Surat Municipal Corporation’s digital adaptation of the water management solution has always inspired me. I firmly believe that this integration of smart infrastructure is feasible and will further enhance our transition to becoming a developed nation.
- What specific challenges in Indian urban development do you believe can be addressed through technology-driven infrastructure?
While it is very encouraging to see the rapid urbanisation and development, one cannot deny that there are several challenges that are piling up to be addressed. We have several cities where the AQI is exponentially increasing and causing alarm for the smooth daily operations of offices and schools. A smooth and systematic incorporation of technology-driven infrastructure would prevent a lot of known challenges like pollution, traffic congestion, energy efficiency, public services delivery, etc., from causing problems in future cities. This would help ensure that a future, developed India.
Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) is the best example. It is very important that more and more professionals are made aware of the effective implementation, monitoring and handling of such technologies, as this can solve a lot of such challenges. ITMS can ensure optimised traffic flow and significantly reduce pollution issues as well, since it reduces congestion.
There are many other such proven and tested digital platforms which have contributed immensely towards solving challenges like in-person visits, manual errors, and record security, like DigiLocker and online mutation.
- In your experience, where does the real estate sector currently fall short when it comes to adopting a tech mindset?
In the real estate sector, most of the businesses all over India are still run by people with a conventional & traditional mindset, who are not adaptable to the evolution in technology.
In such a situation, one can only understand what is lacking when there is a revolution in technology and AI.
They mostly treat technology as an add-on and are overly dependent on manual labour and the traditional old contractor ecosystem. I even get shocked when I see one of the most successful businessmen in this field still follow paper-driven, labor-intensive and non- digitised processes to do their daily business.
With infrastructure alone leading the way to a developed India in the next 2 decades, we need stringent government policies to ensure that the entire real estate sector adapts to this revolution in technology, as no professional or even person today can stay away from this.
Digital planning tools like Building Information Model (BIM) and many other such technologies need to become a part of the DNA of people running the real estate sector.
- How do you balance the integration of advanced technologies with practical, on-ground execution constraints in Indian cities?
Adapting to and integrating advanced technologies is undoubtedly a major challenge. Hence, it is very important to acknowledge that there is no quick solution, and we need to begin small. The Golden Mile project in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, is an excellent example of this kind of smart city initiative. We need to begin with such small-scale pilot projects, which can be monitored, with a long-term goal to expand systematically through tried and tested methodologies. We need to have case studies prepared for such successful projects so that we can prepare an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
Once the SOP is prepared, we need to understand and incorporate training programmes for local labour, contractors and engineers, without whom we would never be able to effectively take care of local constraints. This way, our reliance on external consultants is eliminated in case of any emergency.
- Can you speak to the role of data in planning, designing, or maintaining infrastructure in your projects?
As a data-driven organisation, we rely heavily on analytics for successful project execution. To have any successful project, proper planning, designing, and maintenance are pivotal. This cannot be achieved without proper data analysis. In all our projects, we use GIS mapping for decisions to plan and avoid infrastructure clashes. Heat maps are used in designing ventilation, window positioning and lighting to reduce electricity usage while also taking care of comfort. Predictive maintenance uses sensor data to detect problems in systems before any breakdown and reduces costs.
- How feasible is it to implement smart technologies like IoT or automation in mid- scale or affordable developments?
IoT is now very affordable, such that even small households can afford technologies like smart meters, CCTV, smart lights, etc. However, it is sad that due to the old traditional mindset, again, many small-scale real estate businesses do not even try and understand the usefulness of this concept. IoT is affordable now even in mid-scale developments, and there are even government incentives in many states for adopting green and smart technologies. It is very crucial to understand that such an adoption is also cost-effective. I would strongly suggest that every state government should implement incentive policies to achieve our long-term sustainability goals.
- What are some common misconceptions developers have about “smart” infrastructure?
There is nothing constant in nature and evolution; sometimes, revolution is a never-ending process. The sooner we understand this, the better we not only survive but also excel. People and communities not adapting to this phenomenon have suffered or have gone extinct. Similarly, in the case of developers, more than a misconception, there is a lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the revolution in technology that is creating misconceptions. Most consider this to be too expensive, whereas it can lead to long-term savings through energy efficiency and reduced maintenance. Some also think that this is meant for luxurious projects, whereas we already discussed how even mid-scale projects can affordably adopt smart infrastructure. Also, this is not just about a one-time investment or an automation, as is commonly perceived. Just like the evolution process, we need to be constantly updated and incorporate staff training and data management to remain efficient. This also increases transparency and sustainability.
- How do you ensure the tech elements in a project remain adaptable and relevant 10 years down the line?
It is very important to ensure that all developers now have long-term goals. So, it is essential that we are future-ready and incorporate tools and technology that are flexible. We need to adopt systems that can be easily upgraded and not locked to one vendor or software. Just like how buildings and vehicles need frequent maintenance for efficiency, the technical platforms we adopt also need scheduled maintenance. However, I would like to again stress that all this will be incomplete without a regular systematic training of staff. We also need to ensure that developers incorporate leadership programmes within organisations (like Leadership Imperative), which can create leaders from within organisations. Such
Programmes always ensure that the long-term goals of organisations are systematically taken care of.
- In your view, what is the role of public-private collaboration in accelerating the adoption of smart infrastructure?
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are the backbone of smart infrastructure implementation. Governments may have intent but lack technical capabilities, while private firms may have innovation but lack access to resources and permits.
Together, they can bridge these gaps. Projects like the Smart Cities Mission and GIFT City in Gujarat are successful examples of this synergy. We need to study such models, create SOPs from them, and implement a nationwide strategy to standardise and accelerate smart infrastructure adoption.
- What are the biggest barriers, policy, financial, or mindset-related, that prevent smart infrastructure from becoming the norm in India?
There are several barriers. First, there’s a lack of cohesive national guidelines or codes for smart infrastructure. We also need integrated RERA and regulatory frameworks that encourage smart compliance.
Financially, high initial costs and a lack of tech-focused, low-interest loans deter small-scale developers. But most critically, the mindset needs to evolve. Many still view smart infrastructure as a luxury, not a necessity. This perception must change through awareness campaigns and government-mandated compliance policies.
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