Steel is the answer to goals of smart cities

18 December 2017

Project Smart Cities is a visionary project of the Government of India for sustainable, high quality of life in terms of infrastructure, mobility and connectivity, technology, environment, availability of resources and overall living conditions and experience.

The government’s Smart City initiative is an urban renewal and retrofitting programme to develop 100 such cities in the country. The move envisages a major facelift of the existing inadequate infrastructure, including roads, flyovers, airports, residential areas, city sewage systems, community areas, including parks, shopping centres, hospitals and schools. For structures that are intended to have at least a 100-year life cycle with minimal maintenance but are quick to complete, the answer lies in steel, whether it is underground, above ground or in buildings.

If made with steel, all sewage, drainage, water, casing for cable for Internet or transmission, will ensure zero wastage and maintenance. If roads are laid with concrete strengthened with steel, it translates to lesser damage over a period. Buildings across the globe are steel intensive.

Drinking water pipes made of stainless steel for transporting water after filtration are not only good for health but also stop leakage of potable water, a precious commodity today.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s Bureau of Waterworks has used stainless steel to dramatically reduce the city’s water loss.

Bridges, culverts and crash barriers of steel will protect valuable lives. Thus, stepping ahead with steel for smart cities will trigger development, with no debris and faster execution of projects. The assets thus created promise to be long lasting. Steel is also 100% recyclable, and thus, environment-friendly.

Steel, by virtue of its physical properties, emerges a strong component in and contributor to the fabrication of infrastructure required for smart cities. In many landmark buildings, such as the Lotus Temple in Delhi, stainless steel rebars used have a lifespan of about 300 years. Creating new smart cities or upgrading old cities is fastest and cost effective with steel structures.

Source: The Hindu