Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Microsoft partners with Surat Municipal Corporation to make Surat a smart city
BackBack

Microsoft partners with Surat Municipal Corporation to make Surat a smart city

Partnership aims to make citizen services more responsive, increase efficiency and productivity of administration departments, increase transparency

SMC, which has been one of the early technology and e-governance adopters, has selected Microsoft as its partner of choice for process automation and citizen services. Photo: BloombergPremium
SMC, which has been one of the early technology and e-governance adopters, has selected Microsoft as its partner of choice for process automation and citizen services. Photo: Bloomberg

Mumbai: Microsoft India on Friday announced a partnership with Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to transform Surat into a smart city.

SMC, which has been one of the early technology and e-governance adopters, has selected Microsoft as its partner of choice for process automation and citizen services.

The partnership aims to make citizen services more responsive, increase efficiency and productivity of administration departments to engage with citizens in new and innovative ways, increase transparency with open data and expand digital inclusion with access to online services and digital literacy training.

“Surat is the fourth fastest growing city in the world, with a population of 50 lakh. It is a vibrant business hub and it serves as the economic hub for several industries. In this context, it becomes increasingly important to leverage technology as an enabler of constant modernization. We are excited to partner with Microsoft to transform Surat into a sustainable and competitive city that cares for its citizens," said Milind Torawane, Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Surat municipal commissioner.

“Over the course of the next few months, we will work with Microsoft and its partners, Iconics and SoftTech, on solutions for water management and urban planning (building plan approvals). These along with other similar solutions will help us keep the citizen at the center of our development and fulfil our smart city vision," he further added.

SMC has already worked with Microsoft on implementing several e-governance and citizen-centric services like property tax and revenue collections, birth and death registration, vaccination alert systems, as well as a customized platform for Surat city’s police department in collaboration with Surat traffic education trust, which assists the city police to effectively monitor and respond to security and crime threats in a timely manner.

“Our global experience in implementing this program in cities around the world – from Paris to Chicago – puts us in a unique position to contribute to Surat. This can serve as a model for other Indian cities, in line with the Indian government’s vision of 100 smart cities," said Neeraj Gill, general manager—public sector, Microsoft India.

India’s urban population is projected to grow from 340 million in 2008 to 590 million in 2030, according to a 2010 McKinsey and Company study. By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the global population will live in cities. Through its CityNext initiative, Microsoft India integrates information technology and human engagement to address infrastructural challenges and create new opportunities for economic growth and improved competitiveness overall.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 20 Dec 2014, 01:18 AM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App