Bengaluru is set to introduce its own version of the ‘Yes San Francisco’ initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable development in the city while harnessing the rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s minister of electronics, information technology & biotechnology, made the announcement on July 9 during a press gathering.
This initiative, inspired by a recent roadshow in the United States where the team examined San Francisco’s collaborative governance model, is a response to the pressing urban challenges faced by Bengaluru.
“Bengaluru will be the second city in the world to have such an initiative,” Kharge noted, emphasizing the importance of learning from successful urban models globally.
The ‘Yes San Francisco’ initiative aims to create a participatory platform that connects various stakeholders, including government bodies, corporations, academia, research institutions, think tanks, startups, and citizens, to collaboratively tackle crucial urban issues.
The ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive roadmap that will guide Bengaluru towards becoming a more inclusive, livable, and future-ready city.
To this end, the government has already conducted a consultation involving 45 representatives from multinational corporations (MNCs), local companies, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), educational institutions, and think tanks.
During this session, over 120 potential urban challenges were identified, with sustainability emerging as a central theme encompassing environmental, social, and economic factors.
Key areas of concern that arose included solid waste management, greywater management, mobility solutions, public transportation, air quality, green cover, connectivity, and sustainable construction practices.
Kharge explained, “Once the problem statements are ascertained, startups, corporations, or incubation centres will receive them and try to find appropriate solutions.
Once a stakeholder submits a solution, we will assess its feasibility and offer it as a pilot project. If the pilot succeeds, we will scale it.”
The overarching aim of the initiative is to chart a pathway for Bengaluru to emerge as a sustainable and livable city in the future.
The framework of this initiative is expected to be fully established within the next two months, reflecting the collaborative governance model that characterizes ‘Yes San Francisco.’
This model successfully integrates public and private stakeholders to devise an urban policy framework calibrated for technological advancement and inclusivity in the Bay Area.
Notably, the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) reported that IT companies in Bengaluru suffered a loss of over $28 million (approximately INR 225 crore) in a single day due to severe traffic congestion on August 30, 2022, which underscored the urgent need for improved infrastructure.
With 30% of the Outer Ring Road population returning to office work, the deteriorating infrastructure situation has raised global alarms regarding Bengaluru’s capacity for further growth.
In conjunction with this initiative, the state government recently wrapped up a 10-day high-impact roadshow across major US cities including Boston, New York, and San Francisco, aimed at reinforcing Karnataka’s status as a vibrant hub for innovation and technology.
Led by senior officials from the Department of Electronics, IT & Biotechnology, the delegation successfully engaged with over 120 stakeholders including MNCs, startups, and academic institutions during the roadshow.
Kharge disclosed that the trip resulted in securing investments worth ₹5,100 crore in the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing and GCC sectors, with the expectation that these investments will come to fruition within the next six months.
These investments are anticipated to generate approximately 9,700 jobs in the region.
The initiative also involved one-on-one meetings, roundtables, and closed-door discussions centered around Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM), biotechnology, and deep-tech innovation.
Various MoUs and Letters of Intent were signed with key players, indicating a promising influx of further investments.
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