Hyderabad: Explaining the concept of a “Safe-Smart Colony”, urban development experts from the Administrative Staff College of India said on Monday that the colony should provide seamless services to its residents and all departments, municipality, fire, police, water should work in tandem. In case of safety measures, the colony should have advanced police measures like entry-exit monitoring, identifying all en-routes (internal lanes), CCTV, increased patrolling, point books and record of owners and service providers. “Smart” meanwhile, denotes the use of technologies like burglar alarm systems and other tech based automations.

Professor Srinivas Chary, director of Urban Governance and Infrastructure Development, ASCI, said, “Every basic amenity that a citizen needs should be available, with access to service delivery agencies. That apart, every colony should have a large lung space for social gatherings, meetings and interactions. A Smart Colony would also mean taking care of senior citizens, youth and children as their needs are different. It should also be Wi-Fi enabled as it would help many students.”

“Other fundamental issues that should be taken care of are rain water harvesting pits, water re-cycling methods and minimising solid waste management by having de-centralised waste management system, so that a Smart Colony will not pollute the neighborhood. As far as the safety measures are concerned, a Smart Colony should have technology enabled surveillance systems and the residents should turn watch dogs,” he added.

The expert stated that such colonies should use high-level gadgets, surveillance (tracking systems), e-governance concepts, excellent connectivity and networking. The amenities provided should include Wi-Fi and broadband connectivity, high-end planned infrastructure including board roads, drainage, parks and streetlights.
Sanjay Torvi, architect, urban designer and conservationist added that colonies should be self sustainable. The state government should integrate the existing cultural and social structure and each society should have its own character.

Following the safety measures taken at the Mamatha Colony, the Cyberabad commissionerate has identified 215 other colonies in its jurisdiction where safety measures will be amplified. Cyberabad commissioner C.V. Anand said that residents have themselves come forward to adopt the concept. He said the police will make a note of house owners and service providers, increase patrolling and install CCTVs at the entry/exit points, isolated areas and open spaces among other things.

Anjani Kumar, additional commissioner of police (law and order), Hyderabad, said that at present, the police to people ratio in the city is 1:1,300. The Safe City concept was initiated in Hyderabad in November 2014, covering 40 colonies. As many as 13 colonies in the North Zone have already adopted the concept. Moreover, the Safe Colony concept is purely voluntary in nature. There are no compulsions from the police. Representatives from many colony associations have expressed their desire to participate in the concept at their own cost. Police department will work as facilitators.