Nottingham City Council touts services to Indian smart city, suggests report

Nottingham City Council has offered its services to one of India's twenty 'smart city challenge' cities, as Chandigarh seeks finance for urban management systems.

The Indian Express reports that a delegation from Nottingham met with B Purushartha, commissioner, who outlined the plans developed since the Punjab city was one of 20 selected by the Indian government in January, including to form a company to drive forward the project, Chandigarh Smart City Ltd.

Chris Henning, director of economic development at Nottingham, then gave a presentation about Nottingham. He outlined is it known as "the bicycle capital" and they have expertise in smart transportation. They offered the corporation services such as cycling system design, the report says. The commissioner responded "they would consider their services".

Another report stated the authority was seeking finance including over £70m for an integrated traffic and transport management system and a 'safe city' smart streetlight management system. This article in The Tribune India is critical of expenditure on consultants and cites an unnamed official who casts doubt on the plans.