During 2015-2016, a total of 12 pilot projects between European and Indian cities in areas including waste management, sewage treatment, urban development and smart-city development. As of End of April 2016, MoUs were intended to be signed between Chandigarh and Copenhagen (CLEAN Cluster) as well as between Stuttgart and Mumbai (climate partnership). Business cooperation is especially promising in the cooperation between Copenhagen and Chandigarh.
1) Chandigarh (cooperation mainly with Copenhagen / CLEAN Cluster)
- Sewage treatment: Upgradation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)and conception of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs): Experts from Copenhagen and Stuttgart presented technical solutions for the upcoming programmes to be launched by the Chandigarh Municipal Commission CMP. The Municipal Commissioner will travel in February to Copenhagen to further discuss concrete tendering procedures. Main business partner from the EU side is Rambøll (DK) and the Sewage Treatment Plant of Stuttgart.
- Waste Management and Energy Efficiency. After the visit to Chandigarh, European and Indian experts agreed to further cooperate in the areas of waste management. Here the Regional Government of Lazio offered a bilateral cooperation between the municipal corporation AMA – the biggest Italian operator in environmental services and integrated waste management. and the CMP. Regarding energy efficiency, the Italian Energy Efficiency Agency ENEA offered support regarding smart street lighting. Danfoss is keen to provide support to Chandigarh regarding district heating and district cooling solutions.
- Urban Development – non motorized transportation: Development of pedestrian and cycling areas as pilot projects in sector 35 and/or 17. The international urban developer GEHL Architects (DK) had made a business proposal to the Chandigarh administration (CMP and to the UT Administrator). During the site visit all relevant stakeholders were involved and are very interested in rapid implementation. The Chandigarh authority is currently discussing the tendering procedure in order to offer a transparent and open approach. Cooperation with Stuttgart is intended within UNESCO’s heritage programme to Le Corbusier buildings (Stuttgart has also some).
- Bilateral MoU with Copenhagen: The Advisor and the Secretary have agreed that there should be a document signed between both cities in order to cement the relationship. This would facilitate the rapid financial support to bilateral pilot projects. It was intended to sign a MoU with the CLEAN Cluster, which had been empowered by Copenhagen City Council to do so. However, Chandigarh officials insisted on signing an MoU with Copenhagen City Authorities. The World Cities team is currently evaluating how to make this happen within the next few weeks.
2) Mumbai (cooperation mainly with Stuttgart)
- Urban Development: Cooperation between MMRDA and Stuttgart Urban Development Unit regarding sustainable development brownfield areas and regional information systems.
- Support to MMRDA’s Environmental Database. The head of Stuttgart Environmental Department, Dr Hans-Wolf Zirkwitz, provided technical support regarding the indicators of such a base to be developed by MMRDA. Stuttgart will also facilitate best practices regarding the role of public awareness measures to communicate to citizens the positive results of green city development.
- Climate change. Stuttgart is preparing the launch of a bilateral climate partnership with Mumbai covering areas like mitigation and adaptation strategies (climate atlas), energy efficiency (lower consumption) and access to energy. Talks were held between Stuttgart (Mayor, Heads of relevant departments) with the Commissioners of MCGM and MMRDA.
3) Navi Mumbai (cooperation mainly with Lazio)
- Cooperation with Lazio on the Review of NAINA Regional Development Plan. Lazio has been shortlisted to prepare an offer. Tendering process ongoing.
- Cooperation on smart-city development. Similar to Chandigarh, the Italian Energy Efficiency Agency ENEA offered support regarding smart street lighting. ENEA also identified support measures in the sustainable mobility area including smart transport services (buses on demand). Cooperation also includes the protection of critical infrastructures and building smart districts ICT platforms.
- Waste Management. Here the Regional Government of Lazio offered a bilateral cooperation between the municipal corporation AMA – the biggest Italian operator in environmental services and integrated waste management. and CIDCO.
4) Pune (cooperation mainly with Andalucía).
Delegates from Andalucía Smart City Cluster had a very first contact with Pune Municipal Corporation. During the three-day visit they identified cooperation projects in three different smart city areas:
- Cooperation on smart mobility – e-cars fleet
- Cooperation on developing a Technology Park
- Cooperation on developing an ICT platform for smart city services
For detailed information on the projects, please contact pgandara@world-cities.eu.