In a new study by IIT Kharagpur, it has been revealed how Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), the nerve centres of 100 smart cities, are facing financial sustainability crises. According to the Times of India, this is because the states and municipalities of the cities are not allocating sufficient funds.

Some of the smart cities are Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Pune (Maharashtra), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Surat (Gujrat), Kochi (Kerela), Ahmedabad (Gujrat), Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) etc.

What are ICCCs?

ICCCs are the advanced facilities that are designed to enhance and monitor the management of various urban services and infrastructure in real time. Their key features include city infrastructure management, civic services monitoring, traffic and transportation management, safety and surveillance, and disaster risk simulation and prediction.

What Reports Revealed

However, in the recent study conducted on ICCCs effective role in disaster management, the premier technical institute concluded that the financial sustainability of these centers has been the significant hurdle.

According to the IIT Kharagpur report, At present, the revenue generated goes to the state exchequer with no basis for sharing with ICCCs, which have to install, maintain, operate, and periodically upgrade infrastructure. There is a huge recurring cost required for the operation and maintenance of such infrastructure. A mechanism for cost sharing is mandatory for supporting the allied functions of the ICCC.

However, the researchers have recommended sharing revenue generated from ICCC-like traffic management and surveillance. They also suggested monetizing ICCC infrastructure like optical fiber cable and making mobile applications mandatory for ICCC. The monetization of such an application would be helpful in connecting citizens with authorities and generating efficient funds.

Mobile applications and call centers should be made mandatory for all ICCCs apart from web-based services. This becomes the direct point of contact for citizens with urban local bodies (ULBs) and the Smart City Mission via ICCC for availing varied urban services or lodging complaints related to the same, the report further stated.

The study further noted the dependence on private companies to manage the centers. It recommends building in-house expertise to limit the dependence on the outside vendors. While commending the role of ICCCs in disaster management in cities like Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Agartala, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, their study further highlighted the need to protect the ICCC hardware against theft and vandalism.