Schneider Electric India, IL&FS bag Naya Raipur smart city project

MUMBAI: Schneider Electric India, in partnership with IL&FS, has bagged a contract from Naya Raipur Development Authority to develop the first greenfield integrated smart city in the capital of Chhattisgarh.
India plans to develop 100 smart cities which will use smart and intelligent technology solutions that will lead to better connectivity and efficiency in energy, building, transport, healthcare, infrastructure, governance, education and citizen services.

“We will be developing the smart city along with IL&FS, with special focus on efficiency and smart solutions for infrastructure of Naya Raipur. The project will have three key elements – physical, social, and economic infrastructure,” Prakash Chandraker, managing director of Schneider Electric Infrastructure, told ET.

The two companies will develop and run the project for five years. The project entails setting up hardware for sensors for data collection, setting up operating technology for controlling information and enterprise control for the development authority to monitor and control the smart city.

Larsen & Toubro and BSNL were among the other bidders for this project. “The partnership with IL&FS helps us leverage their strength in infrastructure and our strength in electric and smart solutions,” Chandraker said.

India plans to build 100 smart cities over the next five years, entailing an investment of more than Rs 1 lakh crore. Indian and multinational companies are eyeing the government backed initiative given the huge investment potential in the sector.

“We are keen to take up more smart city projects. This is a greenfield project, so it would be easier to execute than an existing city which has to be converted into a smart city,” Chandraker said.

Seventeen years after Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh, its new capital Naya Raipur has been recognised as an integrated township. The state government is aggressively pushing the project to create a residential and commercial hub.