An official Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) has been signed between Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to collaborate in the fields of information technology and smart city innovation. This partnership aims to enhance digital governance, improve citizen services, and accelerate the development of smart infrastructure in Thane.
The signing ceremony took place in Japan, with Deputy Minister Kenichi Kawamura of MLIT and Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao in attendance. The program was conducted under the guidance of Commissioner Saurabh Rao, IAS, whose strategic direction has strengthened TMC’s digital transformation initiatives and demonstrated the municipality’s commitment to adopting international best practices.
Under this cooperation, MLIT and TMC will jointly implement projects related to smart infrastructure, ICT system development, capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the experimental deployment of advanced digital solutions tailored to Thane’s needs. Commissioner Saurabh Rao highlighted that this partnership will facilitate the rapid adoption of innovative technology, creating an efficient, flexible, and citizen-centric urban administration system.
The MoC also reflects TMC’s strategic vision to accelerate digital transformation while embracing global best practices. This agreement marks a new chapter in India–Japan collaboration, laying the foundation for effective digital projects and shared technological advancements in the future.
As per the MoC, both institutions will cooperate on ICT-based solutions, smart urban management, technical knowledge exchange, and innovative project implementation. The initiative is being led by Commissioner Saurabh Rao, with key contributions from CEO of Smart City Thane Sandeep Malvi, Deputy Director of IT Sachin Sangle, and advisory firm Palladium, which assisted in drafting and coordinating the MoC.