MMRDA plans to transform BKC into a 'smart city'

With a view to attract investor interests and get a premium pricing for its remaining land bank, the city's planning authority MMRDA plans to transform the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) into a 'smart city'.
"We want to provide such basic amenities that will transform BKC into a smart city, which will strengthen its brand value," Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Additional Commissioner Sanjay Sethi told PTI.
He said the authority is contemplating to provide facilities like wi-fi in the region, smart parkings, street lights with focus on energy efficiency, among others.
"We have been studying on this proposal for the past six months. We are yet to finalise the plan as we are working on its nitty-gritties," he said adding, "We are yet to decide whether to cover the entire BKC with wi-fi or some portions and how to provide energy-efficient solutions through solar power."

Sethi said the authority is working on the feasibility of supplying excess power generated from solar lighting to the common grid and also how it can earn carbon credits, if any.
"We are studying how we can provide video analytics. Instead of just putting up CCTVs, we are studying how such a system can be integrated in such a way that in case of emergency its services can be deployed immediately," Sethi said.

He said the upcoming International Convention Centre, being developed by Reliance Industries (RIL), will also attract investors.
"They are developing around 2,000 car parking spaces out of which 1,000 will be allotted to MMRDA. These we plan to monitor through video analytic system. Also we will be creating recreational spaces," Sethi said.

When asked about the estimated cost of the project, he said, "It will be too premature to talk about the cost of the project now as they are yet to finalise on whether to implement the project on BOT basis or EPC or both.