Work Spaces to Complement Smart Cities

The Smart Cities Mission, which was initiated by the government in 2015, envisaged 100 smart cities emerging across the country. The crux of this mission is to create model centres, each based on a unique area development plan, which offers citizens a decent quality of life that is clean, environmentally sustainable and technically facilitating, through the application of 'smart' solutions. According to a study by McKinsey Global Institute, Urban areas are expected to be home to 40% of India's population by 2030 and contribute 75% of the country’s GDP. In terms of absolute numbers, 590 million people will live in cities and 70% of net new employment will be generated in cities by then. The report also suggests, “The choices that India makes to manage the process of its urbanization will have profound consequences for its people and its economic future.” The underlying implication is that a comprehensive development of physical, institutional, social and economic infrastructure must emerge for these cities to be great places to live and work in. Another motivation for creative, conducive and efficient work spaces is the wave of innovative disruption that has overtaken many industries, giving rise to asset-light start-ups and re-modelled corporate structures. These modern businesses seek out democratised co-working spaces which offer salubrious experiences.