T’puram: The capital city’s smart-city initiatives, including intelligent traffic management, electric mobility, renewable energy and an integrated command centre, have found a place in the 2024 Shanghai Manual, a global guide for sustainable urban development published in association with UN-Habitat.Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Limited (SCTL) received the information about the city’s inclusion in the manual through the Govt of India about a week ago, officials said. Though the Shanghai Award associated with the initiative was given in 2024, the manual featuring the Thiruvananthapuram case study has been published only recently, bringing the city’s initiatives into the international spotlight.The manual, titled ‘Youth Leading Climate and Local Action for Cities’, presents Thiruvananthapuram as an example of how technology, environmental sustainability and people-centred planning can be combined to improve urban services. It describes the capital as an emerging centre for innovation, culture and commerce and highlights its 2030 Development Plan and efforts to build a knowledge-driven economy.A senior SCTL official said the recognition reflected the city’s efforts to use technology for better urban management.“The inclusion of Thiruvananthapuram in the manual is an important recognition of the smart-city initiatives implemented in the capital. The objective has been to use technology not just for infrastructure development but to improve mobility, safety, sustainability and the overall quality of urban life,” the official said.The manual identifies SCTL as the agency leading the city’s smart initiatives, with the Smart City Command and Control Centre and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at their core. The systems use adaptive traffic signals, intelligent traffic management, and urban surveillance to improve traffic flow, road safety and crime detection.The ICCC integrates departments including water supply, transport, health, revenue, IT, police and disaster management. Its role during the Covid-19 pandemic, including coordination of oxygen supplies, hospital beds and ambulances, is also highlighted.The city’s electric mobility programme, featuring 113 electric buses across 48 routes, is another key case study. Passenger numbers rose from 5.29 lakh in Sept 2023 to 8.21 lakh in Dec 2023, while 11 charging stations were established.The manual also highlights the revitalisation of Manaveeyam Veedhi and rooftop solar installations planned across 504 govt buildings and schools, with a targeted capacity of 16MW.It also cites Thiruvananthapuram’s Smart City Advisory Forum as an example of participatory urban governance involving elected representatives, officials, experts, youth and community organisations.
