Globally, urbanization, urban development and management debates have been influenced by the “smart city” idea – an idea that has emerged fashionable both in policy and practice. Its main focus appears to be on the role of Information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, although related socio-economic as well as political factors have also been discussed. 

Today, we have with us Dr. Anjali Karol Mohan, an urban and regional planner with an experience of over two decades to discuss what do we miss out when we take a technology-centric approach to urban planning as is the case with Smart Cities and what alternatives exist out there. Dr. Mohan is an urban and regional planner with a PhD in e-governance. Over the past two and a half decades Dr. Mohan’s practice and research straddles development, urban planning and management, public policy and information and communication technologies and development (ICTD). She is a visiting Faculty at the National Law School University of India, Bangalore, International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore and Takshashila Learning Institution.