27 March 2024, Pune, India — Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide stresses the urgent need for cities to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make sense of their abundant data and improve urban governance.
Cities Sitting on Data Goldmines
Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of Mumbai Metro, highlighted the paradox of many cities possessing vast amounts of data but lacking the tools to utilize it effectively. Speaking at the AI Alliance Pune, she emphasized the potential of AI to organize this data, extract valuable insights, and ultimately guide better decision-making for urban development.
Bhide underscored the importance of collaboration between private companies, policymakers, and industry partners to unlock the power of data and transform urban governance. She cited the successful data-driven approach taken during Mumbai’s COVID-19 management as a prime example of such collaboration.
Breaking Down Data Silos
Bhide pinpointed the issue of data fragmentation across different city departments, hindering its utilization. She stressed the need to break down these “silos” and foster data integration for a more holistic approach to urban planning and management.
Digital Integration for Seamless Public Transport
Beyond physical infrastructure, Bhide championed the importance of digital integration in public transport systems. She envisioned a platform offering real-time information on various modes of transport, allowing commuters to seamlessly plan their journeys and incentivize the use of public transport over personal vehicles.
Bhide hailed the National Common Mobility Card as a significant step towards digital integration across different transport options.
Conclusion
Bhide concluded by reiterating the critical role of public transport for fostering urban livability and economic prosperity. She emphasized the need to embrace technology like AI to address urban challenges and create thriving cities.
