Bangalore, Feb 12 (IANS) The Karnataka government and the US-based networking technologies major Cisco Systems will jointly develop a roadmap for a sustainable Bangalore city, it was announced here Thursday.
The state government and the company Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the subject in the presence of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Cisco chief executive John Chambers.

Chambers launched Cisco’s global ‘Intelligent Urbanisation’ initiative, designed to help cities around the world use the network for integrated city management, a better quality of life for citizens, and economic development.

“Bringing together a broad portfolio of products, services, partners and solutions across Cisco, the initiative is initially focused on intelligent, sustainable solutions for public safety and security, transportation, buildings, energy, health care and education,” he said.

As part of developing the roadmap for Bangalore, Cisco will work with Karnataka State Road Transport Corp and the Karnataka police to improve public safety and security around one of the major bus terminals in the city.

Cisco has a Globalisation Centre in Bangalore, set up as part of its total India investment of $1.16 billion. The centre’s initiatives include solar lighting and daylight harvesting, rainwater and treated sewage water harvesting for irrigation and fertilisation and network-controlled lighting systems.

On the US economic scene, Chambers said: “I am optimistic of mild recovery by the end of 2009.”

He said he remains “upbeat about the Indian market, which is our fastest growing market outside the US”.

Regarding Cisco’s association with Satyam, Chambers said: “We will continue our engagement with it. As a customer of Satyam, we are happy. The Indian government has taken enough measures to restore our confidence in the company and its services capability.”