Building Gurugram’s Smart City Backbone—At Zero Public Cost

Challenge 

Gurugram, popularly known as the “Millennium City,” required a robust and future-ready digital backbone to support its rapid urban growth and smart city initiatives. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) faced the challenge of creating an underground optical fiber cable (OFC) network that could deliver dedicated connectivity for critical smart city elements such as CCTV surveillance, traffic management systems, and public Wi-Fi. Additionally, the solution had to ensure long-term operational reliability for over two decades while minimizing capital expenditure (CAPEX) and optimizing the use of the Right of Way (ROW). Achieving these objectives without imposing a financial burden on the public exchequer was a key constraint. 

Solution 

Sterlite Electric addressed these challenges through an innovative Build-Transfer-Operate (BooT) model under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. This approach included: 

• Underground OFC Network: A 4-duct, high-capacity optical fiber network was deployed across Gurugram to serve as the city’s digital backbone. 

• Asset Swap: GMDA provided free ROW, and in return, Sterlite Electric transferred two dedicated ducts with 96-fiber capacity to the authority. 

• Long-Term O&M: Sterlite Electric committed to providing free operation and maintenance for GMDA’s dedicated fiber for 21 years, ensuring uninterrupted service. 

• Monetization Rights: Sterlite retained the right to commercialize the remaining two ducts, enabling revenue generation through partnerships with telecom operators and ISPs. 

Impact 

The GMDA project has become a benchmark for urban digital transformation in India. It delivered a world-class fibre network for Gurugram’s smart city corridor at zero upfront cost and eliminated recurring O&M expenses for 21 years. The network has already attracted over 20 leading telecom players, including Tata Communications and Sify, validating its market acceptance. By leveraging Sterlite’s monetization expertise, the project transformed ROW into a self-sustaining digital ecosystem. The 96-fiber dedicated core now powers Gurugram’s smart city infrastructure, improving traffic management, public safety, and citizen services, while ensuring high network uptime at 99.98%. 

At a Glance 

Conclusion 

The GMDA Smart City project demonstrates how innovative PPP models can unlock digital infrastructure without financial strain. By leveraging Sterlite’s BooT approach, Gurugram now has a resilient, high-capacity fiber backbone powering its smart city vision.