Vizag is going to have a new shape in the near future. The reason for this is, the Global IT giant, IBM Corp is showing interest to come forward for developing the city.

IBM is doing this as a part of the social responsibility - IBM Smarter Cities Challenge. IBM took up this responsibility for 16 cities across the country and Vizag is one among them.
 
In a span of a month, the IBM experts from various parts of the world will visit Vizag and the plan might be out by September or October.

Took the inputs on pre and post Huhhud

On Wednesday, a team from IBM had already visited Vizag and interacted with district officials and the  representatives of various government departments and took the inputs from various departments on pre and post Hudhud preparations and arrangements.

City centric projects- IBM official

Mamtha Sharma, IBM India, Corporate Citizenship head said, ”We are working at finding smart solutions using technology and world’s best practices to the cities we have identified as part of our social responsibility.  IBM is making huge investments in this regard for the well-being of the society. Our teams will prepare a city-centric projects. Since Vizag is a cyclone prone area and that in the city witnessed Hudhud, we have decided to provide a strong disaster plan using all our expertise in the field. For Allahabad, it would be a solid waste management plan and in Surat we are planning a project  on integrating all civic services.”

Vizag’s Command Centre with video walls 

Since last November, the expert team of IBM had conducted a study in Vizag and collected the data and also did a GIS mapping of the city which will help in responding intelligently in a coordinated manner involving  all the related government agencies during any kind of calamity or emergency. Vizag’s Command Centre with video walls will be on the lines of the one set up by IBM in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where the IBM is implementing the Smart City project with emergency management.
 
By Phani