Sanand to get 'community smart' with DMIC

Sanand will soon become a part of the 'Smart Community Project' that would be developed by Japan's Mitsubishi consortium along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). A 'Smart Community' is one that is energy-conserving, emitting low-carbon, using next-generation urban infrastructure through energy-saving technologies and urban transportation systems.

Keiichi Nakagaki, chairman and managing director of Mitsubishi Corporation India private limited today said on the sidelines of a seminar at Vibrant Gujarat Summi, "We plan to start the project on a pilot scale by running electric buses along the Ahmedabad-Sanand route from February apart from starting work on solar power projects too."

He added that Mitsubishi would request the Japanese government to fund the project through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) or New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Once the pilot project reiterates the economic viability of such a venture, the Smart Community Project would be scaled up across the entire DMIC, Nakagaki informed. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with government of Gujarat and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited (DMICDC) to collaborate in the development of an environmentally friendly Smart Community at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2011.

MHI will form a consortium with four other Japanese companies. The Smart Community plan is a part of DMICDC's ambitious plan to develop the regions in the corridor between Delhi and Mumbai, which include industrial parks, power plants, airports, ports, railways, roads and commercial facilities. The consortium is also looking at business development opportunities in renewable energy projects along the corridor.