Visionaries from all corners brought their brains together to dream up ways to innovate and improve our bustling city. From cyberspace to airport spaces, and from bustling streets to concert beats, they explored bold ideas to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing Bengaluru today.Tackling cyber crimesN A Vijay Shankar, a cyber law and data protection expert, argued that banks should take more responsibility when cybercrimes happen. He suggested that if banks let fake accounts open up, they should be held accountable. M A Saleem, Director General of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), spoke about the difficulties in fighting cybercrimes that cross borders and involve complex technologies like VPNs and cryptocurrencies. Despite these challenges, Saleem expressed confidence in India's capabilities to handle cybercrimes, noting that new digital forensic tools are helping a lot.More airportsAnother hot topic was whether Bengaluru should have more airports. Captain GR Gopinath, an aviation pioneer, and other experts discussed how having more airports could improve connectivity and help the city grow evenly in all directions. They pointed out that cities like London and New York have multiple airports, which support their development and make travel easier for everyone.Making city more walkableA panel on making the city more pedestrian-friendly highlighted the need for better footpaths and more green spaces. Arun Pai, founder of BangaloreWALKS, shared his experiences from walking across the city and identifying problems on the footpaths. He and other panelists, like urban designer Nithya Ramesh, emphasised the importance of creating spaces where walking is safe and enjoyable, suggesting that we should be ashamed to rely so heavily on cars by 2040.Improving waste managementDiscussing waste management, experts stressed the importance of getting everyone in the city involved in recycling and properly managing waste. They talked about the challenges of ensuring that waste is processed efficiently and the potential benefits of adopting a circular economy model, where waste materials are reused instead of being discarded.Reviving concert sceneThe summit also touched on how to bring back Bengaluru's buzzing concert scene. Speakers discussed the need for better infrastructure and support for artists to perform live music. They suggested that the city should be more accommodating to live performances, which can enrich the cultural life of Bengaluru and boost the local economy.AI in healthcareLastly, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in mental health was debated. While AI can offer new ways to treat mental health issues, panelists also cautioned about the risks of relying too much on technology. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted the benefits but also the need to manage the impact of technology on young people’s mental health.Across all these discussions, a common theme was the importance of planning for the future and using technology wisely to solve urban problems. Whether it’s fighting crime, managing traffic, or ensuring everyone’s health and well-being, the experts at the DH Bengaluru 2040 Summit shared a vision of a smarter, more sustainable Bengaluru that puts people first.
