Smarter Cities and Healthier Communities

IT’S clear: Smart cities in late July 2025 are increasingly AI-integrated, citizen-centric, and designed holistically from the ground up—marking a turning point beyond pilot projects into scalable, governance-aligned innovation.

Chandigarh Launches EV Portal & Advances Solar Rollout

Chandigarh introduced a dedicated Electric Vehicle (EV) Portal—grant application tracker, real-time subsidy info, and Google-Maps integrated location of public EV charging points—and completed solar PV installations on all government buildings.

Impact:

• Empowers citizens with transparent, user-friendly digital services in sustainable mobility.
• Enhances adoption of electric vehicles, reducing urban emissions.
• Regular audits ensure solar infrastructure remains effective, advancing long-term energy resilience.

Mangaluru Rolls Out AI-Powered Traffic Enforcement Cameras

Trial phase June–July 2025, enforcement starting July 1
Nearly 200 high-resolution AI cameras are deployed across Mangaluru’s major roads to detect violations (helmet, seatbelt, signal breaking). Alerts currently sent via text; fines begin once fully activated.

Impact:

• Provides real-time monitoring and enforcement of traffic rules—improving safety and discipline.
• Lays groundwork for behavioral change through tech-enabled deterrents.
• Enables scalable smart traffic systems in mid-sized Indian cities.

Uttar Pradesh Commits ₹10,732 Crore to Develop Lucknow as AI City

UP government unveiled major AI initiatives—AI Pragya, UP Agris—covering governance, agriculture, education, healthcare, and public safety, with training for over one million citizens in AI and ML, facial recognition in municipal systems, and AI governance pilots in Lucknow & Varanasi.

Impact:

• Positions Lucknow as a national innovation hub and model smart city through deep AI integration.
• Improves governance transparency (e.g. DBT fraud detection) and citizen services.
• Bridges tech access gaps by training residents and integrating AI with public infrastructure.

Italian Mayors Launch Autonomous Driving Campaign

Over 60 Italian mayors launched “Autonomous Driving: Italy in the Front Row” to designate municipalities as testbeds for self-driving technologies, aiming to centralize pilot programs within Europe and align regulatory framework

Impact:

• Moves Italian cities toward leadership in autonomous mobility via localized testing grounds.
• Sparks dialogue on regulatory harmonization and public-private tech rollout coordination.
• Advances urban logistics and accessible mobility solutions across municipal contexts.

Cities Built Smarter by Design: Global Examples (Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia)

Examples from SJ Group showcase emerging smart-city models that integrate tech into planning—from Australia’s eco‑preserved estates to Singapore’s campus operations center and Saudi Arabia’s Sudair City—all embedding intelligence into zoning, infrastructure, and services.

Impact:

• Signals shift from retrofitting to building smart intelligence from scratch.
• Prioritizes sustainability, walkability, and human-centric design in urban development.
• Offers scalable frameworks for future-proof smart planning in burgeoning cities.

• AI is central: From traffic enforcement to governance and agriculture, public services are becoming deeply tech-enabled.
• Citizen engagement and equity: Chandigarh’s portal and UP’s citizen training show growing focus on inclusive smart service access.
• Policy innovation: Italy’s autonomous driving campaign and structured smart-city planning by SJ Group reflect proactive regulation and ecosystem building.
• From retrofit to design-first: Smart cities are transitioning from bolt-on tech upgrades to integrated design philosophies that embed intelligence at the base.

Summary Table