British experts on job for smart city solutions in Pune

punePune’s smart city project is set gather pace since a team led by urban planners from Britain has commenced work on the master plan.

The team will survey Aundh, Baner and Balewadi areas and identify area-specific smart city solutions.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials are supporting the team which also has experts from Bengaluru. Some projects that will be studied are related to slum redevelopment, traffic management and public transport.

“The team has been in the city for the last few days, and its members are making ground visits to collect data and finalize the plan about smart solutions,” deputy municipal commissioner Vikas Kanade said recently.

The civic body has teamed up with Future Cities of Catapult Team based in Britain. From its London urban innovation centre, Catapult Team accelerates urban ideas to market, improve economy and make cities better.

They bring together Britain’s top architects, engineers, designers, academics and business professionals. Their work currently focuses on promoting healthy cities, building resilience in urban infrastructure and designing strategies to help cities with finance to use smarter technologies.

A delegation led by municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar had visited London a few months ago to study the tie-ups. It had visited the traffic control room for the transport system in London and checked the intelligent water pipe monitoring solutions, solid waste management, street lighting, disaster management systems and water supply schemes.