Bengaluru: "Technology alone cannot solve mobility; it must adapt to people's needs," said experts at the Future ICT Forum: For Sustainable Cities, highlighting AI-driven solutions for urban transport and energy here on Monday. With Bengaluru recently ranked 2nd among the congested cities in the Tom Tom Index, the need for solutions is much higher.
Company leaders working on smart mobility solutions emphasised real-time resource allocation, global collaborations, using AI to match public transport supply with demand and predict traffic or energy peaks.
Stephan Keller, Mayor of Dusseldorf, Germany, told TOI: "We have test fields for autonomous driving, and we also work with traffic control systems that adapt to environmental conditions. If the air is cleaner, traffic can flow; if the air is polluted, cars are stopped and kept out of the city. Public transport is the key issue because it can improve individual mobility and address long-standing urban challenges. Underground and railway-based public transport is far more convenient than buses. Traditional solutions were followed for decades. Now AI can help allocate resources more effectively, guiding transportation systems to where demand exists. One issue in German cities, for example, is that train or bus lines sometimes operate empty because nobody uses them, and AI can help match supply with demand."
Andrea Hendrickx, country head, Infosys Germany, said: "We make a mistake when we put technology first — cities aren't planned on a drawing board. Urban solutions must be human-centric and situational. Cities are already showing the way: Bengaluru uses AI twins for traffic, Singapore predicts bus demand, Barcelona cuts water use with sensors, and Tokyo tracks crowd movement with digital twins, while AI supports drainage and traffic management. If there are jams and long queues, a city isn't smart enough. The key is to define the problem first and then apply technology — otherwise every tool looks like a hammer. We must learn, experiment, and pursue practical sustainability, always around people."
Experts also recommended an iterative, experiential approach, piloting emerging technologies and new transport modes.
Payal Satish, chief commercial officer, Sarla Aviation, said: "With rapid urbanisation, Bengaluru ranks among the world's most congested cities, while ground infrastructure is already at capacity. The challenge is to move people faster, cleaner, and smarter. India also lacks the infrastructure for a helicopter ecosystem, but advances in electric propulsion and autonomous ICT enable smart aerial mobility, which will be an evolution in infrastructure, not a luxury. With dense, fast-growing cities, strong digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies, it is time for a natural test bed for this."
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, chief executive officer, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, said: "We are exploring new collaborations with sustainable mobility companies to solve traffic problems, possibly using AI. We are already exploring opportunities with start-ups from India, Canada, and across the globe. Anyone with better solutions, we would like to interact, understand, and see how we can start looking at opportunities within our own ecosystem. The key is partnerships with the industry and private participation, rather than relying solely on the govt."
Box: Steps to Solve
Smart Cities use Deep Tech, AI, and skilling to create AI-integrated smart spaces.
Define the problem first; tech comes second.
Create a city-wide data platform and governance.
Focus on flagship domains—smart mobility, smart energy, digital public services.
Co-create with citizens and businesses.
Use AI and predictive analytics.
Work with digital twins.
Make it sustainable, connected, affordable, learning systems, and be experiential (SCALE).
Source: Andrea Hendrickx, country head, Infosys Germany.
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