Why India must get urban transportation right
All Indians MatterApril 27, 202100:53:32

Why India must get urban transportation right

India’s urban centres are expanding at breakneck speed, but its creaking transport systems are struggling. Traffic congestion, poor road safety, air pollution and lack of parking space are challenges that must be solved if we are to have sustainable urban growth. Sobia Rafiq and Sukhmani Grover, who are engaging with communities and working with the government to untangle the mess in Bangalore, speak to All Indians Matter about what the rest of India can learn from the Bengaluru Moving initiative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s urban centres are expanding at breakneck speed, but its creaking transport systems are struggling. Traffic congestion, poor road safety, air pollution and lack of parking space are challenges that must be solved if we are to have sustainable urban growth.

Sobia Rafiq and Sukhmani Grover, who are engaging with communities and working with the government to untangle the mess in Bangalore, speak to All Indians Matter about what the rest of India can learn from the Bengaluru Moving initiative.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices



00:00:00

Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to all Indians matter I must of engineer.




00:00:03

Speaker 1: As India's urban centres expand quickly, creaking transport systems are struggling.




00:00:08

Speaker 1: There is a pressing need to transform urban mobility.




00:00:11

Speaker 1: Traffic congestion, poor road safety, air pollution and lack of




00:00:14

Speaker 1: parking space are serious urban transportation challenges that must be




00:00:18

Speaker 1: solved if we are to have sustainable urban growth.




00:00:24

Speaker 1: All Indians matter.




00:00:28

Speaker 1: We are on the show to guests was striving to




00:00:30

Speaker 1: make a difference and architect an urban planner. So B.




00:00:33

Speaker 1: Rafique is committed to solving complex environmental issues in India's cities.




00:00:37

Speaker 1: This led to her working with a variety of factors,




00:00:39

Speaker 1: from municipalities and state government bodies to private organisations and




00:00:43

Speaker 1: resident communities. She is the cofounder




00:00:45

Speaker 1: of sensing local new bank that is working across sectors




00:00:48

Speaker 1: like solid waste management,




00:00:50

Speaker 1: air pollution, sustainable mobility, water management and way finding systems.




00:00:55

Speaker 1: Sensing local has a strong belief in the power of




00:00:57

Speaker 1: ground up citizen led participatory planning to make a city's




00:01:00

Speaker 1: more livable and sustainable. She is a post graduate from




00:01:04

Speaker 1: the city's department at the London School of Economics and




00:01:06

Speaker 1: Social Science




00:01:08

Speaker 1: Soup Money Go, meanwhile, is director assistant citizen engagement for




00:01:11

Speaker 1: the young leaders for active citizenship or while Suk Money




00:01:15

Speaker 1: is a development strategist and practitioner with extensive experience at




00:01:19

Speaker 1: the intersection of policy, grassroots mobilisation and active citizenship. She




00:01:23

Speaker 1: is a graduate from the College of Business Studies,




00:01:26

Speaker 1: University of Delhi and has an M A in sociology.




00:01:29

Speaker 1: Suk Money has worked with a Tony Blair Faith Foundation




00:01:31

Speaker 1: on experiential learning and with UNICEF for building a citizen's charter.




00:01:35

Speaker 1: She learned community organising from Harvard Kennedy School.




00:01:40

Speaker 1: So B and Suk money our drivers of the Bengaluru




00:01:42

Speaker 1: Moving campaign. It is a mobility campaign to solve the




00:01:45

Speaker 1: problems of ever present traffic congestion, cumbersome commutes and air pollution.




00:01:50

Speaker 1: In the Bengaluru metropolitan area, the average citizen spends more




00:01:54

Speaker 1: than 240 hours stuck in traffic every year. This means




00:01:57

Speaker 1: that they are less productive,




00:01:59

Speaker 1: There is dirty A




00:02:00

Speaker 1: and goods and services are more expensive. The campaign inch




00:02:03

Speaker 1: to develop robust, accessible, non more Christ transport systems, such




00:02:08

Speaker 1: as walking, cycling and related infrastructure that are also gender




00:02:11

Speaker 1: inclusive and prioritise women's safety. The campaign has achieved a




00:02:15

Speaker 1: measure of success in today we speak to Serbia and




00:02:17

Speaker 1: suit money about the need for better urban mobility in




00:02:20

Speaker 1: India and potential solutions welcomes a B and soup money




00:02:24

Speaker 2: hire shop. Thank you Firing.




00:02:30

Speaker 1: It's a both. So let's try to S o B




00:02:36

Speaker 1: in suk money. India is organising at a rapid rate.




00:02:39

Speaker 1: In the 19 oh one census, the urban population was 11.4%




00:02:44

Speaker 1: of the total. By 2001, it had risen 28.53% and




00:02:49

Speaker 1: by 2017 it was 34%. The rate is rising further.




00:02:54

Speaker 1: According to a UN study, it will be 40.76% by 2030.




00:03:00

Speaker 1: This is a non fact. We continue to see a




00:03:02

Speaker 1: rise in the ownership of private where he can. So




00:03:04

Speaker 1: how does foresee this will impact the city's? What is




00:03:08

Speaker 1: the role of sustainable modes of transportation? Samir, you could




00:03:11

Speaker 1: go first and suck money. They maybe you could follow.




00:03:16

Speaker 2: So, um, in rightly, as you said, organisation of past




00:03:19

Speaker 2: health increase tremendous me and




00:03:22

Speaker 2: coming from Bangalore distant give you the example of Anglo




00:03:24

Speaker 2: because I think it's been one of lowest underdog cities




00:03:27

Speaker 2: that have really jumped up now to the talks. We




00:03:30

Speaker 2: are on 80 lock vehicles in 2019. We are second




00:03:35

Speaker 2: only to Delhi,




00:03:36

Speaker 2: however, which is Delhi, which is actually 1.5 road or vehicle.




00:03:41

Speaker 2: However, we are sitting on 80 lock vehicles, only 10




00:03:44

Speaker 2: kilometres of road. Mint




00:03:45

Speaker 2: deli at least has 30 kilometres of movement.




00:03:49

Speaker 2: What this means is that I have less infrastructure. I




00:03:53

Speaker 2: have more medicals, almost 5 to 6 lakh. Very Katara




00:03:56

Speaker 2: Gary added. And with covet, we know that has increased




00:03:59

Speaker 2: further because the adoption of public transport is reduced, people




00:04:02

Speaker 2: taking other modes to just prevent being exposed. Also his reduced.




00:04:06

Speaker 2: We have a lot of people that have also started




00:04:07

Speaker 2: buying cards




00:04:08

Speaker 2: A just in to ensure safe transport




00:04:11

Speaker 2: and impact. When you go back to bangle, be has




00:04:14

Speaker 2: one of the examples right and we're seeing this across




00:04:17

Speaker 2: all our cities where public transport is really lacking or




00:04:20

Speaker 2: my any other sustainable mode infrastructure is backing.




00:04:24

Speaker 2: We see that,




00:04:26

Speaker 2: for instance, buses




00:04:27

Speaker 2: you need 1.2 buses per 1000 people.




00:04:31

Speaker 2: That is the norm. As per the act. A city




00:04:33

Speaker 2: like Bangla needs around 15 buses.




00:04:36

Speaker 2: What we have right now is around 6000.




00:04:39

Speaker 2: That's again




00:04:40

Speaker 2: when we talk about Metro, a metro project here has




00:04:43

Speaker 2: been like going on for years. Like everyone, kilometre is




00:04:49

Speaker 2: sufficient for one lakh population




00:04:51

Speaker 2: bangle 100 kilometres. Guess sitting on 42 kilometres. So what




00:04:55

Speaker 2: you're CEO is that my traffic is increasing. Their public




00:04:59

Speaker 2: transport is always. Infrastructure is always lagging behind. It's going




00:05:03

Speaker 2: to be less people that are working, less people, taking




00:05:06

Speaker 2: cycling or any other moons. What you're coming back down




00:05:09

Speaker 2: to is at least to look at neighbourhoods




00:05:11

Speaker 2: but unsure if people have realised the quality of upper




00:05:14

Speaker 2: parts in our Indian cities. Even that prevents even the




00:05:17

Speaker 2: basic of a neighbourhood that you can walk in




00:05:20

Speaker 2: from happening. So I think like soup money can definitely




00:05:24

Speaker 2: add into that. But yes, sustainable mobility is a huge aspect.




00:05:28

Speaker 2: But because we cannot, we do not have faced to




00:05:31

Speaker 2: increase Agca's anymore, which is this non negotiable?




00:05:38

Speaker 1: I think adding to that, this definitely has a large




00:05:40

Speaker 1: impact on our cities and our day to day life. Also,




00:05:44

Speaker 1: we have been working in Bangalore you for a few




00:05:45

Speaker 1: months now, and a shock mobility and some of the




00:05:47

Speaker 1: things our feet have closely observed is definitely there is




00:05:50

Speaker 1: a need for sustainable transport like with increasing urban population,




00:05:54

Speaker 1: we all know that congestion has been increasing. This




00:05:57

Speaker 1: time spent in commuting is indicative of the problems that




00:06:00

Speaker 1: come with increasing ownership and the use of private vehicles




00:06:04

Speaker 1: more over 95% of the Indian transport sectors. Demand for




00:06:08

Speaker 1: fuel is met by a petroleum based derivative, so get




00:06:10

Speaker 1: another important consideration.




00:06:12

Speaker 1: Also, vehicular emissions have been contributing to air pollution, which




00:06:15

Speaker 1: has led to several respiratory ailments and even deaths




00:06:19

Speaker 1: for the building. More and bigger roads or highway is




00:06:22

Speaker 1: unlikely to solve the problem, and still recently this has




00:06:24

Speaker 1: been the effort because winding roads has never really been




00:06:27

Speaker 1: the solution to reducing condition. If we expand roads,




00:06:31

Speaker 1: additional traffic sweeps in to fill the extra space, and




00:06:34

Speaker 1: the phenomenon is commonly referred to as in EU's demands




00:06:36

Speaker 1: and the idea that once supply increases, the suppressed demand




00:06:40

Speaker 1: for a good Reza faces and more of it is consumed.




00:06:43

Speaker 1: This is specially seen in the case of transportation systems,




00:06:46

Speaker 1: and it's often used as an argument against increasing road




00:06:49

Speaker 1: capacity as a solution to congestions.




00:06:51

Speaker 1: Therefore, basin Odin need to incentivise them, design better public




00:06:55

Speaker 1: transport and also improve pedestrian access and force my last




00:06:59

Speaker 1: meal connectivity of kind of services.




00:07:02

Speaker 1: Another important thing is creation of France. It helps with




00:07:05

Speaker 1: different moods intersect that can also service generators of economic




00:07:09

Speaker 1: activity as well as active cultural notes for the cities.




00:07:12

Speaker 1: A focus shit also be on moving people rather than vehicles.




00:07:16

Speaker 1: That approach will definitely help us better developed better solutions.




00:07:20

Speaker 1: Lastly at, say, a rich countries in one where the




00:07:23

Speaker 1: four own cast but one were the rich use public transport.




00:07:26

Speaker 1: And that should be our, you know, ideally effort, vision,




00:07:30

Speaker 1: everything. That dude I see. I identify with so much




00:07:33

Speaker 1: because all of these things I am saying in Bombay




00:07:35

Speaker 1: to where I live. You know what you spoke about?




00:07:38

Speaker 1: The Metro. You spoke over the lack of wide enough




00:07:40

Speaker 1: roads and all of those things, like I could identify more.




00:07:44

Speaker 1: So we are. How does mobility flow affect the process




00:07:47

Speaker 1: of urbanisation itself? For example,




00:07:50

Speaker 1: can it affected city special morphology?




00:07:53

Speaker 2: Absolutely. So




00:07:56

Speaker 2: I mean, I think you guys must be aware by




00:07:59

Speaker 2: a Mumbai master plan was also in a hold. A




00:08:01

Speaker 2: lot of opposition. Same thing has happened in Bangalore as well.




00:08:04

Speaker 2: We don't have a master plan.




00:08:05

Speaker 2: We don't have a plan to go basically right. And




00:08:09

Speaker 2: when we don't have a plan to growth, growth is




00:08:11

Speaker 2: still going to happen because the Six Cities and Opportunity




00:08:14

Speaker 2: So I am going to continue to have a flow




00:08:16

Speaker 2: of people and people are going to appropriate space. Private




00:08:19

Speaker 2: guys are going to continue to buy land and compute




00:08:21

Speaker 2: a bill because there is a demand.




00:08:24

Speaker 2: However, if used, think back and say if I actually




00:08:28

Speaker 2: capped the capacity of the city,




00:08:31

Speaker 2: half are still left. People activate that use that active




00:08:36

Speaker 2: city engineer spent on the Jones.




00:08:38

Speaker 2: What this means is you start looking at regional level




00:08:40

Speaker 2: of




00:08:41

Speaker 2: so if I had speed, rail




00:08:44

Speaker 2: or Metro very foreigners that connected me to outer town.




00:08:47

Speaker 2: So in in Bangla, very interestingly, you have to you




00:08:50

Speaker 2: have my so all within 1.5 2 hours a distance. However,




00:08:55

Speaker 2: by the real connect, the little people could still with




00:08:59

Speaker 2: level those places and come here to work.




00:09:01

Speaker 2: Work from home is also increasing.




00:09:03

Speaker 2: But what this requires his his mobility. You can control




00:09:08

Speaker 2: the growth of your city if you plan your connexions




00:09:11

Speaker 2: for people to move will between or in and out




00:09:14

Speaker 2: a few. City similarly comes to aspects like looking at




00:09:19

Speaker 2: for small A Last night. I will take the Metro




00:09:22

Speaker 2: if




00:09:23

Speaker 2: it's easy for me to walk to the Metro




00:09:25

Speaker 2: and for me to get to my workplace, who from




00:09:28

Speaker 2: them a trossman. If I don't have last month an




00:09:31

Speaker 2: activity and I don't have an integration of my last




00:09:34

Speaker 2: month and see whether it be within a model change




00:09:37

Speaker 2: between the same world I will not take it is




00:09:39

Speaker 2: just inconvenience life. It goes down to even the basically




00:09:42

Speaker 2: saying having parking




00:09:44

Speaker 2: act a metro station




00:09:45

Speaker 2: and that the land along with the Metro station itself




00:09:49

Speaker 2: and use all often see all of that where the




00:09:51

Speaker 2: Metro looks at only met through as um and it




00:09:54

Speaker 2: doesn't look at Where is my demands. One to come




00:09:56

Speaker 2: out of, I indicate to the bus also indicates with




00:09:58

Speaker 2: the also zar to integrate with shared cycle and




00:10:01

Speaker 2: similarly with your regional rails that you have to be




00:10:04

Speaker 2: really Look at them,




00:10:06

Speaker 2: be on just the aspect of okay and connecting a




00:10:08

Speaker 2: city to a city. But connect you or rail from




00:10:11

Speaker 2: the Mysore. Some ice over there coming towards station to




00:10:15

Speaker 2: then the Metro stations. Then they So yes, it is




00:10:19

Speaker 2: integral to control




00:10:21

Speaker 2: organisation. There is no other way. You make the movement




00:10:24

Speaker 2: easy and people will move out.




00:10:27

Speaker 1: They are absolutely a development. This access to our mum,




00:10:30

Speaker 1: mobility of the lack of it,




00:10:33

Speaker 1: impact the poor differently from the well of millions of money.




00:10:36

Speaker 1: You can go first this time and then severe




00:10:38

Speaker 1: A. Yessir. So I would like to address this more




00:10:42

Speaker 1: from an inclusive inclusivity lens like what is do we




00:10:45

Speaker 1: need to consider to make the mobility lands came in




00:10:48

Speaker 1: the city more inclusive




00:10:49

Speaker 1: so well. People living in cities constantly attempt to balance




00:10:53

Speaker 1: time spending tower with their employment and other social opportunities.




00:10:57

Speaker 1: But the poor sections, the options are narrowly packed like




00:11:00

Speaker 1: they're constrained not only by the cost of transportation but




00:11:04

Speaker 1: also the nature of employment. It is often entrenched in




00:11:07

Speaker 1: local network, so as a result, poorer sections either end




00:11:10

Speaker 1: up living in substandard living environments more closer to their




00:11:13

Speaker 1: places of world,




00:11:15

Speaker 1: are travelling over longer distances or choosing inexpensive nonmotorised means




00:11:20

Speaker 1: of transport such as cycling, walking in share transport,




00:11:23

Speaker 1: But in contrast. For the relatively well off, there is




00:11:25

Speaker 1: more leeway in terms of commute distance as well as




00:11:28

Speaker 1: commute frequency and options that one can afford.




00:11:31

Speaker 1: So for for a sections were fighting the housing livelihood.




00:11:35

Speaker 1: Mobility balance becomes a bedrock for well being if we




00:11:38

Speaker 1: can somehow enable more affordable, say for faster and efficient




00:11:43

Speaker 1: urban mobility solutions. And and it's not easy. But I mean,




00:11:46

Speaker 1: if we can have their integrated a force, it can




00:11:48

Speaker 1: really help in their social mobility




00:11:50

Speaker 1: and significantly improved quality of life sets want to think




00:11:54

Speaker 1: from all of these perspectives




00:11:56

Speaker 1: and to achieve this, we definitely need to look at




00:11:58

Speaker 1: how the city can be designed to enable travel in




00:12:00

Speaker 1: a more inclusive manner.




00:12:02

Speaker 1: So these are some of the important questions that we




00:12:04

Speaker 1: need to ask us. Different stakeholders need to look at,




00:12:07

Speaker 1: and this would need to go hand in hand with




00:12:09

Speaker 1: the land use and affordable housing policies which understand the




00:12:12

Speaker 1: strong linkages between housing, locations and access to live for




00:12:16

Speaker 1: low income households.




00:12:18

Speaker 2: I think adding towards took money said and housing of cost,




00:12:21

Speaker 2: that's one of the main reasons that you see these




00:12:24

Speaker 2: Chandi towns also, there because people do want to afford.




00:12:27

Speaker 2: I think what I would really like to put is




00:12:31

Speaker 2: that




00:12:32

Speaker 2: for the four, there is no choice




00:12:35

Speaker 2: for the rich. All of this is a choice,




00:12:38

Speaker 2: and that is the




00:12:40

Speaker 2: like. Bill doing surveys with utilitarian cyclist security guards. Mail.




00:12:46

Speaker 2: We don't have a choice. They have to cycle by.




00:12:47

Speaker 2: This road is good or bad. They will continue the cycle.




00:12:50

Speaker 2: Tomorrow you put a cycle lane, you just




00:12:52

Speaker 2: improving and Gilligan, that's additional, more comfort, which any Lee




00:12:56

Speaker 2: they would have actually that without even that right? So




00:12:59

Speaker 2: you're better civil public transport during Koval with, In fact,




00:13:03

Speaker 2: public transport, which is in biologics, been a part of




00:13:05

Speaker 2: doing these surveys in in a few of the neighbourhoods




00:13:09

Speaker 2: around in band,




00:13:12

Speaker 2: it is so sad that they don't even notice decisions




00:13:15

Speaker 2: for them. It's become just a way of it's of




00:13:17

Speaker 2: weather too expensive to access




00:13:20

Speaker 2: public transport, the fact that they don't have enough of




00:13:23

Speaker 2: subsidies for it all in just basic aspects, like safety security, right?




00:13:27

Speaker 2: There are dark streets that stretches. Bus stands are only unsafe.




00:13:31

Speaker 2: No public toilets close by. People are just like it




00:13:34

Speaker 2: is so inhumane




00:13:36

Speaker 2: and they've just learn to live. Is it because they




00:13:38

Speaker 2: don't have a choice? And if we start,




00:13:41

Speaker 2: if we design our city for get any,




00:13:46

Speaker 2: if you're not designing our cities for the poor, everyone




00:13:49

Speaker 2: will get included and everyone. So I think just getting




00:13:52

Speaker 2: that perspective of the poor and how they use and




00:13:56

Speaker 2: what is most important to them has to be our




00:13:58

Speaker 2: starting point of investigating into any




00:14:01

Speaker 2: because without that perspective, you will just not get anywhere right.




00:14:05

Speaker 2: And they are the most important voices to bring into




00:14:07

Speaker 2: the room,




00:14:08

Speaker 2: whether admitted through conversation. Also, you just observation of what




00:14:11

Speaker 2: we think. But I think that would definitely be one




00:14:15

Speaker 2: of the key things that we are also looking at




00:14:16

Speaker 2: driving in.




00:14:19

Speaker 1: That's a critical point, actually, Sophia. So me. Let me




00:14:22

Speaker 1: start with you and then maybe soup money. You can




00:14:24

Speaker 1: chip in also. So what of the top three barriers,




00:14:28

Speaker 1: according to each of feel




00:14:30

Speaker 1: for the adoption of sustainable modes of transportation?




00:14:33

Speaker 2: For me, Actually, it's It's not even for me. It's




00:14:36

Speaker 2: come through a lot of service that we have been




00:14:39

Speaker 2: doing over the last 23 months




00:14:41

Speaker 2: and well done it with, for instance, he's done it




00:14:44

Speaker 2: with cyclists. There are, you know, using cycle for recreation,




00:14:48

Speaker 2: of to go to work as well as utilitarian side




00:14:50

Speaker 2: a talk his comm a safety




00:14:54

Speaker 2: followed by the aspect of the convenience




00:14:58

Speaker 2: and the lack of infrastructure.




00:15:00

Speaker 2: And these three things have been very critical because for




00:15:05

Speaker 2: me to ensure there's infrastructure, you require the government to




00:15:08

Speaker 2: step in to actually build that infrastructure, which is again




00:15:11

Speaker 2: a high cost




00:15:12

Speaker 2: to ensure safety. It requires basic things, right street lighting.




00:15:17

Speaker 2: It requires patrolling across areas that there is no crime.




00:15:20

Speaker 2: That happens. Dead and convenience is something of a behaviour change.




00:15:24

Speaker 2: So I have to as a person in In doing




00:15:28

Speaker 2: city planning,




00:15:29

Speaker 2: I have to ensure that public transport actually competes with transport.




00:15:33

Speaker 2: How do I do this by dis incentivising a car




00:15:37

Speaker 2: usage and incentivising public transport usage or incentivising people to




00:15:42

Speaker 2: you Cycle lanes. A very interesting thing in this regard




00:15:45

Speaker 2: with it, At least if I look at the other




00:15:49

Speaker 2: challenges and issued its




00:15:50

Speaker 2: if I make all of this or sol for these three,




00:15:53

Speaker 2: I will automatically move towards




00:15:56

Speaker 2: actually improvising views.




00:15:59

Speaker 1: So this adding towards a V a share and looking




00:16:01

Speaker 1: back from what we have also heard from our on




00:16:03

Speaker 1: ground communities.




00:16:05

Speaker 1: So while talking about the top bad years or mobility challenges,




00:16:09

Speaker 1: I think it is vital definitely to look at city




00:16:12

Speaker 1: planning




00:16:13

Speaker 1: because how the Indian cities are designed, they're not at




00:16:16

Speaker 1: all conducive penalty. Like you can see the case of




00:16:19

Speaker 1: Bengaluru as well as Delhi and other cities,




00:16:22

Speaker 1: our cities are going without proper planning. So again bringing




00:16:25

Speaker 1: back to the point that a shed before about housing




00:16:27

Speaker 1: livelihood mobility equation so that needs to be really planned




00:16:30

Speaker 1: in tandem with each other's again. As a result, this




00:16:34

Speaker 1: can tend to spread to white without adequate mobility lines




00:16:37

Speaker 1: catering to them. So the day to day life really




00:16:40

Speaker 1: becomes full of hassles,




00:16:41

Speaker 1: along with these various currently a shortage of sustainable public




00:16:45

Speaker 1: transport options for various groups and




00:16:47

Speaker 1: that also kind of connexions to how people are relying




00:16:50

Speaker 1: more on the private transport and that is leading to




00:16:53

Speaker 1: higher congestion.




00:16:55

Speaker 1: So with these issues of sitting city planning class, there




00:16:58

Speaker 1: is increasing population and like there is not a reliable




00:17:01

Speaker 1: public transport outside for different sectors, so definitely more people




00:17:05

Speaker 1: pray for owning their own vehicles if they can,




00:17:08

Speaker 1: and ultimately adding to the cycle of congestion. Another value




00:17:12

Speaker 1: of the important thing and so be also mentioned about




00:17:14

Speaker 1: that is the lack of safety and affordability before affordability




00:17:18

Speaker 1: is a concern, and so is safety, especially for women




00:17:21

Speaker 1: and other people from vehicle socioeconomic backgrounds like, as per




00:17:24

Speaker 1: one of the study's. We refer to leave 9% of




00:17:27

Speaker 1: women in Indian cities field public transparency completely safe,




00:17:31

Speaker 1: and only 3% claimed it is completely unsafe. So, according




00:17:34

Speaker 1: according to Be need to design interventions, in a way,




00:17:37

Speaker 1: they're people feel that it's safe as well as affordable




00:17:40

Speaker 1: to access is better again. Inclusivity is and lens that




00:17:43

Speaker 1: things really need to




00:17:44

Speaker 1: Fitton. So safety is a bigger concern, not just within




00:17:47

Speaker 1: buses or Mexico's, but also there's a lack of supporting infrastructure,




00:17:52

Speaker 1: like from the Inro surveys ever happening, a valid for




00:17:56

Speaker 1: parts of missing. There are not enough options for safer




00:17:59

Speaker 1: for smile, and a small connectivity is when these things




00:18:02

Speaker 1: are not there. Someone would not




00:18:04

Speaker 1: prefer taking a bus or a metro over kind of




00:18:06

Speaker 1: using other private Peters and other options available. So it's




00:18:09

Speaker 1: very important to Saurav. Look at it from this perspective




00:18:12

Speaker 1: as well.




00:18:14

Speaker 1: I think these are very important points and you framed




00:18:16

Speaker 1: the problems very well. Sunamganj put you both on the




00:18:19

Speaker 1: spot and asking for the solutions to these problems also,




00:18:21

Speaker 1: So there will be other alternative sequences. For one question,




00:18:25

Speaker 1: it's only our first and for the next question is




00:18:27

Speaker 1: so if money for this term suk many of us.




00:18:31

Speaker 1: So I think it's very important like, for instance, are




00:18:34

Speaker 1: accepting give us city planning, so making it more conducive




00:18:38

Speaker 1: team on motorised transport gives us the most leaner and




00:18:40

Speaker 1: inclusive cities.




00:18:42

Speaker 1: A pedestrian isation is another important aspect to look at




00:18:45

Speaker 1: having cycle lanes,




00:18:47

Speaker 1: well lick streets and designing cities from a perspective of




00:18:50

Speaker 1: someone who's walking and cycling right now. What happened? The




00:18:53

Speaker 1: cities are designed from the perspective of someone who has




00:18:55

Speaker 1: said driving on the road, but rather we need to




00:18:57

Speaker 1: think of imagine it. More people go to work in cycles.




00:19:00

Speaker 1: What is it that needs to be added to the




00:19:03

Speaker 1: existing infrastructure?




00:19:04

Speaker 1: Also encouraging mixed use Neighbours, I think, will go a




00:19:07

Speaker 1: long way because more you have vibrant public spaces out




00:19:10

Speaker 1: there that harbour more community participation. More people want to




00:19:13

Speaker 1: be out there and using those spaces and maybe ditch




00:19:17

Speaker 1: their private people's and be like out and there with




00:19:19

Speaker 1: everyone we can see. There are several examples, like European cities,




00:19:23

Speaker 1: who have adopted this pedestrian in cycle friendly of votes.




00:19:26

Speaker 1: For instance, in Hamburg, the goal was to make all




00:19:28

Speaker 1: urban spaces completely accessible, by footed. By so such commitments




00:19:32

Speaker 1: will really go along with making our city's more by




00:19:34

Speaker 1: Brenton livable and some of our project at the focusing




00:19:37

Speaker 1: on there as well




00:19:40

Speaker 1: for in terms of long term sustainable transit planning, I mean,




00:19:43

Speaker 1: it's important that people's mobility need sustainability approaches well, stronger




00:19:51

Speaker 1: focus in public transport is definitely going like, you know,




00:19:54

Speaker 1: it's a long term of votes that we need to




00:19:56

Speaker 1: fall over, keeping in mind how that can be a




00:19:58

Speaker 1: more sustainable options as well.




00:20:00

Speaker 1: Diversification, I think, is another important thing, because




00:20:04

Speaker 1: as a public transport you need to cater to various




00:20:06

Speaker 1: groups and keeping in mind the different concerns, like about safety, access,




00:20:11

Speaker 1: affordability and even sometimes people need to make shorted life.




00:20:15

Speaker 1: Some people need to make longer tricks of their their needs, very.




00:20:18

Speaker 1: Some have immediate needs some me to travel long distances




00:20:20

Speaker 1: or take the luggage along or something. So this multimodal




00:20:22

Speaker 1: integration




00:20:23

Speaker 1: and having adequate for smile and last merican activity were




00:20:27

Speaker 1: also help. People choose more wisely from those serum options




00:20:30

Speaker 1: that are available to their divorce options. I'd rather they




00:20:33

Speaker 1: can choose that bourses, you know, moving back to choosing




00:20:37

Speaker 1: my own car to travel. And I think lastly, then




00:20:39

Speaker 1: we're talking about safety and affordability as a poor of




00:20:42

Speaker 1: city in transport planning, it's very foreign to consider that




00:20:46

Speaker 1: house states are are footpaths like Do people feel safe?




00:20:49

Speaker 1: The women be feel safe walking out on in the streets?




00:20:53

Speaker 1: Are they well, it other in a vise on the




00:20:54

Speaker 1: street at to ensure pedestrians field saves other enough female




00:20:58

Speaker 1: workforce within public transport departments? I think that's again another




00:21:01

Speaker 1: area we need to start looking at the first in




00:21:04

Speaker 1: public transport




00:21:05

Speaker 1: employees. Drivers are only male drivers. That might not encourage




00:21:09

Speaker 1: many people to use these facilities later in the night.




00:21:12

Speaker 1: So if there are more women out there even who




00:21:14

Speaker 1: are driving the economy, I think that'll also helps of




00:21:18

Speaker 1: some of from our side.




00:21:20

Speaker 2: I really




00:21:22

Speaker 2: active Suk many's, but from a little more local scale.




00:21:26

Speaker 2: So let's get down to the street right now. And




00:21:29

Speaker 2: how do we actually resolve all these issues? So




00:21:33

Speaker 2: we've been pushing a lot towards neighbourhood, reclaiming their streets.




00:21:38

Speaker 2: You have so many initiatives that have been done on




00:21:41

Speaker 2: a trial basis in India itself.




00:21:44

Speaker 2: A BF arrest in isation of streets




00:21:48

Speaker 2: calling for Castries, Oon




00:21:49

Speaker 2: looking at just place making, which is a terminology that's




00:21:53

Speaker 2: used to say that I meet what soup money was




00:21:56

Speaker 2: also mentioning about ice industry. You actually make people feel




00:21:59

Speaker 2: like they like the place. There are places to cause




00:22:02

Speaker 2: they're places to rest their places to enjoy.




00:22:05

Speaker 2: And this actually comes from a perspective, you know, in




00:22:08

Speaker 2: India so used to London like firing




00:22:12

Speaker 2: and instead, if he started working more towards incentive isation,




00:22:17

Speaker 2: it's so much more fun to do that right If




00:22:19

Speaker 2: I had an elect the example of this very interesting




00:22:23

Speaker 2: thing




00:22:24

Speaker 2: My work from my hospital in London




00:22:28

Speaker 2: to college, which is L S e is a 15




00:22:30

Speaker 2: minute walk.




00:22:31

Speaker 2: But I would do that work.




00:22:33

Speaker 2: Whereas a five minute walk down my street is quite




00:22:37

Speaker 2: a doctor.




00:22:38

Speaker 2: It's official while while that there is an option of




00:22:40

Speaker 2: a bus present option of But if you choose to




00:22:44

Speaker 2: do the work.




00:22:45

Speaker 2: So this is because I had good infrastructure.




00:22:49

Speaker 2: I forsee




00:22:50

Speaker 2: There was always actives runs. I had beautiful places along




00:22:54

Speaker 2: my route which I would love actually seeing in viewing.




00:22:58

Speaker 2: So you have to understand that it is when we




00:23:01

Speaker 2: resolve this, it doesn't have to be a finding it




00:23:04

Speaker 2: doesn't even have to be too big or higher next.




00:23:07

Speaker 2: It just needs to be simple things what people want




00:23:09

Speaker 2: to reclaim for their neighbourhood. So




00:23:11

Speaker 2: example, what we're doing in Malaysia, Um is there claiming




00:23:15

Speaker 2: Conservancy lanes to be walking on the streets.




00:23:18

Speaker 2: Nobody utilised at least 17. There was service lanes,




00:23:22

Speaker 2: ages back when we had our whole neighbourhoods made, basically




00:23:25

Speaker 2: meant to take out the waste garbage. And this scavenging




00:23:28

Speaker 2: that used to happen now delays the line. The funds,




00:23:31

Speaker 2: but reclaiming them only for working will ensure that people




00:23:35

Speaker 2: work there because they know that they're they're not faced




00:23:37

Speaker 2: with moving vehicles. Barone has broken foot paths they have




00:23:40

Speaker 2: would share his past.




00:23:41

Speaker 2: So these times of things will really go a long




00:23:44

Speaker 2: way in just




00:23:45

Speaker 2: pushing for more accessibility as well as use of the




00:23:53

Speaker 1: situation on policy gaps or visit lack of funding. Or




00:23:56

Speaker 1: is it poor execution or something ends Sonia, maybe you




00:24:00

Speaker 1: can go first, and then




00:24:02

Speaker 2: I think it's they're putting blinders. The only look at




00:24:06

Speaker 2: cards we do look at this human scale at all.




00:24:10

Speaker 2: And it's true because, you know, you see when even




00:24:15

Speaker 2: when you look at, uh, planners right




00:24:17

Speaker 2: after city level, there are doing these master plans and




00:24:22

Speaker 2: at the government level,




00:24:23

Speaker 2: you it's a mailing, right? The all experienced this, but




00:24:26

Speaker 2: you never look at this as far as your experience




00:24:29

Speaker 2: of the city. Why don't you work? So you really




00:24:32

Speaker 2: diminished at human scale on you, only looking at the




00:24:34

Speaker 2: big things. And I think there is money.




00:24:37

Speaker 2: There is. There are policies that are coming up, which




00:24:41

Speaker 2: on it, in fact, we have a lot of very interesting,




00:24:44

Speaker 2: like the tender show roads that are coming up. A




00:24:46

Speaker 2: lot of the smart city proposals that had been launched.




00:24:50

Speaker 2: It's been almost 34 years now. There have been launched




00:24:53

Speaker 2: are actually all pushing for white footpaths, walkable footpath




00:24:57

Speaker 2: so effectively, it's all there,




00:24:59

Speaker 2: the we need to shift our focus.




00:25:01

Speaker 2: And that focus has not just unfortunately yet




00:25:06

Speaker 1: to that an ice indefinitely.




00:25:08

Speaker 1: It's a combination of multiple factors that have led to




00:25:11

Speaker 1: the situation. We can't blindly put blame on 11 at




00:25:15

Speaker 1: one place or 21 state holder. It's not that the




00:25:18

Speaker 1: government is not trying to solve the problem. It definitely




00:25:20

Speaker 1: there could be more policy focus can like stronger. But




00:25:23

Speaker 1: the bend I, um, goal of improves urban mobility, difficult




00:25:27

Speaker 1: problem to solve, to begin with.




00:25:29

Speaker 1: And it requires reorganising of the wavy live a life




00:25:33

Speaker 1: right now and the way we'd prefer transport and the




00:25:37

Speaker 1: way the entire transport infrastructure is deaths. It does require




00:25:40

Speaker 1: sort of flexibility, a more focus, and it's a concerted




00:25:45

Speaker 1: efforts from all the stakeholders to address. So,




00:25:49

Speaker 1: like Dal, that is a cannot provide planning authority and




00:25:52

Speaker 1: they are doing some work. Suma is happing under dialled,




00:25:56

Speaker 1: so from the government side, a lot of initiatives are




00:25:59

Speaker 1: being planned and happening there, things like cycle days




00:26:02

Speaker 1: under Suma, part of the closely working with audibly ways,




00:26:07

Speaker 1: and you are trying to build more citizen engagement




00:26:10

Speaker 1: of there are things like government putting restrictions on traffic




00:26:13

Speaker 1: in the central business district. So there are initiatives coming




00:26:16

Speaker 1: in from different places, but I think we definitely need




00:26:18

Speaker 1: more of it. We need more consistent consistency in this




00:26:23

Speaker 1: a a combination of long term as well as sort




00:26:26

Speaker 1: of short term solutions which will go hand in hand




00:26:29

Speaker 1: with each other




00:26:30

Speaker 1: while that is there. But we also need to know




00:26:33

Speaker 1: is that strengthen both the government action as well as




00:26:36

Speaker 1: citizen participation It If I am an asset resident,




00:26:40

Speaker 1: I really have it in my hands as well to




00:26:42

Speaker 1: change the way my neighbourhood functions of how I commute.




00:26:45

Speaker 1: So I really need to




00:26:46

Speaker 1: start thinking from that lends. So as a citizen, we




00:26:50

Speaker 1: really need to be open to changing our lifestyles to resist,




00:26:53

Speaker 1: you know, like you know, even if your private vehicles




00:26:55

Speaker 1: how can be used more n empty and at the




00:26:58

Speaker 1: same time we need to be more active in pushing




00:27:00

Speaker 1: the government to do more public transport and non motorised transport.




00:27:04

Speaker 1: So




00:27:05

Speaker 1: these think you're right. There is one critical issues of




00:27:11

Speaker 1: money tend to several municipal and state indices involved in




00:27:15

Speaker 1: any project.




00:27:16

Speaker 1: There is always multiple agencies business help with turban on




00:27:20

Speaker 1: grand execution. I say it helps in certain base, but




00:27:24

Speaker 1: it also causes issues in on Gran execution to be




00:27:27

Speaker 1: sang like you know, the fragmented framework, you know, with




00:27:30

Speaker 1: different entities responsible for different facets of mobility's. In thus fours,




00:27:34

Speaker 1: a big talent for most issues. In many cases, departments




00:27:37

Speaker 1: don't have visibility of each other's work, and this requires




00:27:40

Speaker 1: a grain degree of coordination, specially when we're looking at




00:27:43

Speaker 1: inter modal way of transport and transit hubs




00:27:46

Speaker 1: and well, some of the things might be underway, but




00:27:48

Speaker 1: we often see there could be duplication of efforts are




00:27:52

Speaker 1: even conflicting efforts. Also a lot of places The municipal




00:27:55

Speaker 1: agencies sometimes do not have enough decision making powers or




00:27:59

Speaker 1: access to sufficient funds, and many to work more closely




00:28:01

Speaker 1: with the state agencies. So definitely it is a lot




00:28:03

Speaker 1: of overlap, which requires more coordinations,




00:28:06

Speaker 1: which will involve a longer time line based projects and




00:28:10

Speaker 1: conflicting priorities.




00:28:12

Speaker 1: So, for example, if you see in Delhi, the transport




00:28:15

Speaker 1: system in Spanish by four different agencies likely have Delhi




00:28:17

Speaker 1: metro rail corporations and we have Delhi transport cooperation, we




00:28:21

Speaker 1: have integrated multimodal transport systems and Indian.




00:28:25

Speaker 1: But overall improve coordination. Indignation will be possible if maybe




00:28:29

Speaker 1: there is a simple agency like something which is more




00:28:31

Speaker 1: unifying all the efforts because all of the agencies are




00:28:34

Speaker 1: working in their own remains as per their charters like




00:28:37

Speaker 1: you empty a unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities, which is managing




00:28:40

Speaker 1: the entire public transport system.




00:28:42

Speaker 1: And this has been recommended in the national urban transport




00:28:45

Speaker 1: policy as well. In Bangalore, India could potentially facilitate a




00:28:49

Speaker 1: system for coordination between, say, various departments like the B, M, R, C,




00:28:53

Speaker 1: l and B M P. C. So again,




00:28:56

Speaker 1: it's helpful. In some cases it does not. But I




00:28:58

Speaker 1: think of wider collaboration is definitely important and a way




00:29:02

Speaker 1: forward on these things.




00:29:04

Speaker 1: Absolutely. So let me talk to you about anybody. Civil




00:29:08

Speaker 1: topic money




00:29:09

Speaker 1: talk a little bit about the financing of urban transport




00:29:14

Speaker 1: projects in India,




00:29:16

Speaker 2: the financing of it right now financing funds in the




00:29:20

Speaker 2: form of either France from the national level. Central government




00:29:26

Speaker 2: grants that come. You have your state yearly lunch and




00:29:29

Speaker 2: then you have the city itself generating revenue, order property.




00:29:34

Speaker 2: When you look at so accessibility to finance, yes, every years,




00:29:38

Speaker 2: but it's a prepared




00:29:39

Speaker 2: road.




00:29:42

Speaker 2: There is money available and it's in fact cruise of




00:29:45

Speaker 2: rupees that comes in if a city is not able




00:29:47

Speaker 2: to bear that, especially or main electricity's like a Bangalore,




00:29:50

Speaker 2: Bombay Ledley, hubs of massive amount of the finance, though




00:29:54

Speaker 2: in your smaller towns in city it is highly lacking




00:29:57

Speaker 2: in terms of municipal finance.




00:29:59

Speaker 2: If that's not there and it's not enough, the state




00:30:02

Speaker 2: continues to put in money and first, some parts coming




00:30:04

Speaker 2: from the central.




00:30:06

Speaker 2: However, if you see there is sustainable urban transport there,




00:30:10

Speaker 2: large amounts of money at the moment are being channelled




00:30:13

Speaker 2: through this March city funds.




00:30:15

Speaker 2: There are total programmes coming under a few national level




00:30:19

Speaker 2: programmes like cycles to change, and states hold that sending




00:30:23

Speaker 2: long money to your state level nodal agencies to actually




00:30:27

Speaker 2: and for these projects, at least in a trial basis,




00:30:30

Speaker 2: a pizza money to do




00:30:32

Speaker 2: that put up full level infrastructure with this is money




00:30:35

Speaker 2: who start the ideation processes to start thinking. However, after that,




00:30:39

Speaker 2: the financing actually comes from




00:30:41

Speaker 2: the municipalities, so even the projects that we are doing




00:30:45

Speaker 2: right now under the same a grant that has been




00:30:47

Speaker 2: given by the agency here, which is the you lt




00:30:51

Speaker 2: the ideas that you try and test certain things, certain




00:30:54

Speaker 2: aspects and then you get there funded within the CD




00:30:57

Speaker 2: MP budget. That is the only budget that happens every year.




00:31:00

Speaker 2: So effectively finance is something that you need to. It's




00:31:04

Speaker 2: like a big pile so far have 1000 crores. I




00:31:06

Speaker 2: need to fight for that.




00:31:08

Speaker 2: How do I fight for that? If I show enough




00:31:10

Speaker 2: of evidence, if I show enough his support for that




00:31:12

Speaker 2: it comes down with the perspective, especially for sustainable mobility,




00:31:16

Speaker 2: comes under the perspective of neighbourhoods trying to reclaim




00:31:20

Speaker 2: seats for their own space, right? So if they go




00:31:22

Speaker 2: and put out enough of information and later saying that




00:31:26

Speaker 2: this can happen here is when you will be able




00:31:28

Speaker 2: to finance it. So a first it is not there




00:31:31

Speaker 2: for certain things like roads, highways, railways, Metro there is




00:31:35

Speaker 2: centralised finals,




00:31:37

Speaker 2: but for other aspects when he talked about sustainable mobility,




00:31:40

Speaker 2: this is pretty much worse face for us to clear finance,




00:31:47

Speaker 1: you mentioned the cycles for change have been asked to




00:31:50

Speaker 1: something around that subject. There's been central government focus on




00:31:54

Speaker 1: cycling and walking, for example, cycles for change in the




00:31:58

Speaker 1: streets for people challenge and all of that.




00:32:00

Speaker 1: How to see such initiatives within the concept context of




00:32:04

Speaker 1: accelerating the adoption of sustainable models within cities.




00:32:08

Speaker 2: I borrow from one of our one of our colleague




00:32:12

Speaker 2: as well. She's part of the single abandonment elective and




00:32:16

Speaker 2: chief stated that this is the best time to be




00:32:18

Speaker 2: an urban designer and




00:32:22

Speaker 2: and the reason being that these two




00:32:25

Speaker 2: programmes has suddenly opened out the imagination of public space




00:32:30

Speaker 2: in Indian cities,




00:32:32

Speaker 2: which has never happened before, and why I say the




00:32:36

Speaker 2: imagination is because we have not pushed the imagination at




00:32:39

Speaker 2: all in our cities. We pushed it with beautiful bridges,




00:32:43

Speaker 2: were pushed it with posted with railways and metro. But




00:32:47

Speaker 2: we love for shit with cycle lanes.




00:32:49

Speaker 2: We have not pushed it with beautiful foot parts. We




00:32:52

Speaker 2: have not pushed it with places where people can stop




00:32:55

Speaker 2: and




00:32:55

Speaker 2: you know, have certain activities or have spaces where, for instance,




00:32:59

Speaker 2: like a Parisian only street, that is instead of having starred,




00:33:03

Speaker 2: Road actually has favour of lots, right, so peace kinds




00:33:07

Speaker 2: of imaginations are happening now, and it is only because




00:33:10

Speaker 2: of the cycle. So Change, challenge and the streets official




00:33:14

Speaker 2: challenge that's really




00:33:15

Speaker 2: pushing




00:33:17

Speaker 2: No t agency have the state level and subsequently pushing




00:33:20

Speaker 2: the city level agencies across like it's not only Bangalore




00:33:24

Speaker 2: and other Metro's, but it is across your smaller cities,




00:33:27

Speaker 2: like my soul. And so I think there is amazing




00:33:32

Speaker 2: things to come, and it is




00:33:34

Speaker 2: very hopeful because you're building and professional capacity, all of ours,




00:33:38

Speaker 2: in this space right now.




00:33:40

Speaker 2: And I can't tell you how long we waited for




00:33:44

Speaker 2: an opportunity like this.




00:33:45

Speaker 2: Also is absolutely heartening to see so much of force




00:33:49

Speaker 2: from the central level that's coming in this direction.




00:33:52

Speaker 1: Speaker of Opportunity Soup money Tell us about Bengaluru moving.




00:33:57

Speaker 1: How was idea born, and how did he roll it off?




00:34:00

Speaker 1: I think as well. Recognise at Bangalore is one of




00:34:03

Speaker 1: the most congested cities in the world and definitely like




00:34:06

Speaker 1: in of estimates suggest traffic congestion costs. Bangalore, Bangalore. Iona's




00:34:14

Speaker 1: budget an extra hour for missing and five to go




00:34:17

Speaker 1: to the airport. Sometimes it takes me 45 minutes from




00:34:20

Speaker 1: the heart of the city, and sometimes it takes me




00:34:22

Speaker 1: 3.5 are




00:34:23

Speaker 1: wide range of mystic dropped




00:34:27

Speaker 1: definitely extra. An extra money also I dad so violent.




00:34:31

Speaker 1: Increasing number of people are moving into the city given




00:34:34

Speaker 1: the benefits of the city. But definitely initially when the




00:34:37

Speaker 1: city was planned, it was not built for this kind of.




00:34:41

Speaker 1: So the end result is you see there is increased




00:34:43

Speaker 1: commute times. You all have seen it while travelling back




00:34:45

Speaker 1: and forth from airport. This a lot of mental 30




00:34:48

Speaker 1: and not to miss the loss of productivity. So in




00:34:51

Speaker 1: order to combat all of this and even further the




00:34:53

Speaker 1: goal of creating visible supes because I think that's a




00:34:57

Speaker 1: basic right that we all sort of 12 was words




00:34:59

Speaker 1: a lilac and based on for young leaders for active citizenship,




00:35:02

Speaker 1: the joy has with the Bangalore you moving campaign, the




00:35:06

Speaker 1: campaign is strategically being ruled out in phases by different organisations.




00:35:10

Speaker 1: Several organisations were working in it such as by lack




00:35:13

Speaker 1: and send




00:35:14

Speaker 1: in the first phase of campaign in 2020 of'em that




00:35:18

Speaker 1: popularising public transport. And also at that time there were




00:35:22

Speaker 1: conversations going around the priority bustling. So the idea of




00:35:25

Speaker 1: the camping was to get more attention there because something




00:35:28

Speaker 1: which is already the government is working towards and talking.




00:35:31

Speaker 1: It's easier to get attention, make people talk and




00:35:34

Speaker 1: ensure life all




00:35:35

Speaker 1: faster implementation of things. A while currently in the second phase,




00:35:39

Speaker 1: we're looking at increasing participation of women because they are




00:35:43

Speaker 1: important drivers in the economy and of mobility. Really, their




00:35:46

Speaker 1: perspective is very important. So how can a city be




00:35:49

Speaker 1: planned around them and their needs?




00:35:52

Speaker 1: The campaign used a range of creative tactics like, you know,




00:35:56

Speaker 1: street hours, music's polls, technology hackathon and




00:36:01

Speaker 1: young adults. You know, young leaders working towards feasting to




00:36:04

Speaker 1: bring in more voices on board, to tell you a




00:36:06

Speaker 1: little more about it. We had run the face one




00:36:09

Speaker 1: of Britain's of this 2020 and that's when they instituted




00:36:13

Speaker 1: a programme for mobility champions.




00:36:15

Speaker 1: So 12 young leaders were a part of it and




00:36:18

Speaker 1: they were passionate young residents from different parts of Bengal




00:36:21

Speaker 1: and they wanted to create a demand for better of




00:36:23

Speaker 1: transport and even built more support in their neighbourhoods and




00:36:27

Speaker 1: with the experts for most available mobility solutions.




00:36:31

Speaker 1: So that was one of the things we also launched.




00:36:33

Speaker 1: Happy thin to stab cities, talent pool and, you know, Envoy,




00:36:36

Speaker 1: the lot of the Belgian town of the city. So




00:36:40

Speaker 1: what can be done? Like what kind of APS can




00:36:42

Speaker 1: be made? What kind of index can be made which




00:36:45

Speaker 1: can help solve the bigger mobility, woes and issues of




00:36:48

Speaker 1: the city? So this one of some of the same




00:36:49

Speaker 1: be soiled, focused on




00:36:51

Speaker 1: right. So what is the current status of it and




00:36:53

Speaker 1: what comes next? So be a medium can go first




00:36:56

Speaker 1: this time intense of money. Next,




00:36:58

Speaker 2: So sensing will join in for the second phase of




00:37:01

Speaker 2: the campaign, though we had interacted with some of the




00:37:03

Speaker 2: mobility champions in the first,




00:37:06

Speaker 2: the way we have channel dressing. And this this time




00:37:10

Speaker 2: of the second case of the campaign actually spoke us




00:37:12

Speaker 2: to Lord Mu on Action on.




00:37:16

Speaker 2: And what we looked at, at least as sensing local




00:37:19

Speaker 2: is to an an effect by like as well is




00:37:22

Speaker 2: to align with direct is doing today are launching this




00:37:26

Speaker 2: sustainable of immobility, of which they have selected nine neighbourhoods




00:37:30

Speaker 2: to give them each of grant of around 50 lakhs




00:37:34

Speaker 2: to




00:37:34

Speaker 2: implement any link related to sustainable mobility.




00:37:37

Speaker 2: So this is literally a grant amount. You can try




00:37:40

Speaker 2: and do whatever you like in that amount to improve




00:37:43

Speaker 2: will make the case for sustainable mobility. Our neighbourhood and




00:37:46

Speaker 2: this is a Vanya Graham which is in a maze




00:37:49

Speaker 2: reset up. So we have attached ourselves to two neighbourhoods




00:37:52

Speaker 2: in Bangalore banas Malaysia and




00:37:56

Speaker 2: we are looking at doing three unique projects. One of




00:37:58

Speaker 2: it is around cycling in Dad, new candy, which is




00:38:02

Speaker 2: our neighbourhood network or cycle infrastructure and are not a




00:38:05

Speaker 2: cycle lanes but infrastructure, which means that there is not




00:38:09

Speaker 2: only cycle aid as a solution.




00:38:11

Speaker 2: The second is to look at walkability where they are




00:38:14

Speaker 2: reclaiming Conservancy lanes and 11 kilometres of footpath alongside that




00:38:18

Speaker 2: to actually make the neighbourhood walkable. And this is actually




00:38:22

Speaker 2: a 15 minute neighbourhood. It's usually you must be hearing




00:38:25

Speaker 2: a lot about the 15 Minutes city globally




00:38:28

Speaker 2: the Afghan and Bangalore. It's a 15 minute neighbourhood. Everything




00:38:31

Speaker 2: is accessible. Most people live and work in the area,




00:38:34

Speaker 2: but I am able to work. So this is, however,




00:38:37

Speaker 2: looking and walking.




00:38:39

Speaker 2: The third one is in on public transport. We're looking




00:38:42

Speaker 2: at improvising the information design around public transport so they're




00:38:48

Speaker 2: broken into three pieces, is broken into my first and




00:38:51

Speaker 2: last night. How do I get to the bus?




00:38:53

Speaker 2: Borders My information that require for that or get from




00:38:56

Speaker 2: my bus stop to once I got not to my




00:38:58

Speaker 2: destination




00:38:59

Speaker 2: to look at the bus stop itself, which is to




00:39:02

Speaker 2: see what kind of information is there at the bus




00:39:04

Speaker 2: stop regarding my bus. Sarah want to face timing of




00:39:06

Speaker 2: the bus? And regarding where do I get out? Within




00:39:11

Speaker 2: the bus




00:39:13

Speaker 2: Is my information, right? How do I know where to




00:39:15

Speaker 2: get off? You know what fertiliser of who do I




00:39:18

Speaker 2: asked if I am disabled and a blind person. And




00:39:22

Speaker 2: how do I entered his bus? And in fact, like




00:39:25

Speaker 2: one of very interesting things that we found out to




00:39:27

Speaker 2: this project is there is a subsidy for the blind




00:39:31

Speaker 2: as a bus pass in my hello.




00:39:33

Speaker 2: And in fact, they prefer taking the bus over Metro




00:39:36

Speaker 2: because at least they find someone to help them.




00:39:39

Speaker 2: And it is so sad that is, to lead someone




00:39:41

Speaker 2: to help him. And I think the focus of where




00:39:46

Speaker 2: we are right now. We have literally we're We're in




00:39:48

Speaker 2: a third month of the project and of campaign as




00:39:52

Speaker 2: well




00:39:52

Speaker 2: Are these really tried to capture user experience. We strike




00:39:57

Speaker 2: to capture opinions of people. So we really gone engagement




00:40:00

Speaker 2: heavy and we have hit almost, I think, more than




00:40:04

Speaker 2: 600 people that were engaged through our surveys. These, in fact,




00:40:09

Speaker 2: audited in Malaysia we have audited




00:40:13

Speaker 2: 11 kilometres of footpath Conservancy lanes with over 60 plus




00:40:16

Speaker 2: residents of Malaysia. Um, we have audited one A cycle




00:40:20

Speaker 2: through a handlebar surveys 40 kilometres of road land which




00:40:24

Speaker 2: is effectively going to be a proposed for the cycle




00:40:27

Speaker 2: network along with 30 yards cyclists numb




00:40:31

Speaker 2: a goat sam dot New Kundi I have devised




00:40:33

Speaker 2: So the whole status now moves towards captured everyone's opinions.




00:40:37

Speaker 2: Now the hard work is in reaching the design. So




00:40:40

Speaker 2: once captured everyone saying now is the negotiation stage to




00:40:43

Speaker 2: say they're okay now what needs to be done, right?




00:40:46

Speaker 2: So this is where the pressure builds up and it




00:40:48

Speaker 2: was easy to listen to people




00:40:50

Speaker 2: now to deliver to that is very are at with




00:40:53

Speaker 2: this champions. So we move towards




00:40:55

Speaker 2: the desire we move towards the piloting on grounds and




00:40:59

Speaker 2: we are be launching a lot of exhibition events that




00:41:03

Speaker 2: will help activate this pilot get more people to interact




00:41:06

Speaker 2: with what we will be implemented so that we cannot




00:41:09

Speaker 2: feedback captured through that




00:41:12

Speaker 1: so adding toward severe shared. So in the second phase




00:41:15

Speaker 1: of the probe down the campaign, they're focusing definitely more




00:41:19

Speaker 1: on the non motorised transport aspects, including walking, cycling and




00:41:22

Speaker 1: related infrastructure and also advocating for a gender sensitive policy




00:41:27

Speaker 1: approach towards transportation and connectivity. To serve this, we have




00:41:31

Speaker 1: inducted the sense of stained champions 15 mobility champions




00:41:34

Speaker 1: as the two month, part time engagement sort of programme.




00:41:36

Speaker 1: And these all are passionate young residents of Bengaluru coming




00:41:39

Speaker 1: from different backgrounds such as urban planning, designing, engineering and




00:41:43

Speaker 1: climate in the in the activism. And they're working on




00:41:46

Speaker 1: ongoing projects with sensing locals, team and mentorship. So they




00:41:50

Speaker 1: are working in the three different neighbourhood projects that Serbia




00:41:53

Speaker 1: just mentioned.




00:41:54

Speaker 1: In addition to the on ground work which is very,




00:41:56

Speaker 1: very like supplemental action driven




00:41:59

Speaker 1: and implementation heavy though of champions are also working on




00:42:02

Speaker 1: a research track wherein they are writing policy briefs now,




00:42:06

Speaker 1: This will help them gather useful literature and presented analysis




00:42:10

Speaker 1: on the themes of a participatory of voter noble planning,




00:42:14

Speaker 1: building effective gender sensitive interventions in M P and even




00:42:17

Speaker 1: Tactical Urbanism. Something where you know it's an organisation or




00:42:20

Speaker 1: a citizen led approach to neighbourhood




00:42:22

Speaker 1: buildings is a very short term. Luke Austin's available interventions.




00:42:25

Speaker 1: So idea is that once these three policy beats entities,




00:42:28

Speaker 1: these will abuse case scenarios. Case studies will be further




00:42:31

Speaker 1: disseminated to policymakers, urban planners and even civil society organisations




00:42:36

Speaker 1: that they can refer to give in. Bengaluru right now




00:42:38

Speaker 1: has an appetite bear with adults efforts you must afford




00:42:43

Speaker 1: the work sensing local is doing. People




00:42:45

Speaker 1: are really out there to work. So this will definitely




00:42:48

Speaker 1: add more to the knowledge pool of things like what




00:42:51

Speaker 1: has already happened was to take place. And what will




00:42:53

Speaker 1: be some of the learning that can be, you know,




00:42:55

Speaker 1: adopted elsewhere as well. So lastly, in this phase, we're




00:42:59

Speaker 1: also focusing on something interesting in Congress in new sort




00:43:02

Speaker 1: of products. We are all security ing and we're calling




00:43:04

Speaker 1: it audio guided heritage sites. The idea is to




00:43:08

Speaker 1: a leveraged the recent uptake of cycling in Bangalore with




00:43:10

Speaker 1: cycle days a nose has been a lot of talking




00:43:13

Speaker 1: about cycling. So be thought of weaken of these audio




00:43:15

Speaker 1: guided towards which people can download on and half and




00:43:20

Speaker 1: use it. And you're different parts of Bengaluru and




00:43:24

Speaker 1: servo that these interventions will really free citizen engagement and




00:43:28

Speaker 1: the willows incentivise people that you know. Why should I




00:43:31

Speaker 1: do more cycling in Bangalore, trying to bring in more




00:43:33

Speaker 1: innovation also to the already existing on wrong bomb? That's happening?




00:43:38

Speaker 1: That's important. But the company have another important question year.




00:43:41

Speaker 1: For what? About the government response. How is that been in?




00:43:44

Speaker 1: Maybe Sofia, Serbia? You Can I add to that one




00:43:47

Speaker 1: soup minister.




00:43:48

Speaker 1: So I think like a shade earlier mobility's of sort




00:43:52

Speaker 1: of of complex issue to work on and something that




00:43:54

Speaker 1: when we started working on it and realise, er, it's




00:43:56

Speaker 1: important to have, like government buying as well, a citizen




00:44:00

Speaker 1: engagement and an organisational expertise to it.




00:44:03

Speaker 1: And in our experience there was engaged with different government




00:44:06

Speaker 1: agencies during the previous and displace of the campaign, and




00:44:09

Speaker 1: they have been very




00:44:10

Speaker 1: the poor above the idea, like in face one be




00:44:12

Speaker 1: engaged with B M P C to develop a solution




00:44:16

Speaker 1: for an app and a vial. The development of it




00:44:18

Speaker 1: is still underway in this phase like, for instance, the




00:44:21

Speaker 1: projects that are under SUMA that has been driving. They're




00:44:25

Speaker 1: they're They're very keen to engage with youth, for more




00:44:27

Speaker 1: citizen participation and




00:44:29

Speaker 1: for audio rights part the audio guided heritage tools. We




00:44:32

Speaker 1: shared the idea with smart cities Bengaluru, and they have




00:44:35

Speaker 1: expressed how it fits really well into their mandate and




00:44:37

Speaker 1: are keen to offer support. So we do see there




00:44:40

Speaker 1: is a brain degree of support and against grating pension




00:44:44

Speaker 1: coming in our and as we're progressing on it, let's




00:44:47

Speaker 1: see how count kind of beating that ahead.




00:44:54

Speaker 2: I think just a few things that we have a




00:44:57

Speaker 2: new spoken our first doll face is Super Support Agency.




00:45:00

Speaker 2: I think we're lucky to have a commissioner that is




00:45:05

Speaker 2: leading it that early is passionate about moving the city




00:45:07

Speaker 2: in a different directions. However, we really tried and buy clothes.




00:45:12

Speaker 2: New thing has been the ward committees.




00:45:14

Speaker 2: So we have presented all these projects at the war




00:45:17

Speaker 2: committee citizen at the level of the world. And it




00:45:19

Speaker 2: has your beady MP municipality officials




00:45:22

Speaker 2: at the scale of this ward, along with, you know,




00:45:24

Speaker 2: some political representative, citizen, other representatives, So we have actually




00:45:31

Speaker 2: gotten very good response and in fact I think so.




00:45:35

Speaker 2: The fact of the late if I community and not




00:45:38

Speaker 2: led by as being, you know,




00:45:40

Speaker 2: typically outsiders to a neighbourhood. The community members have a




00:45:44

Speaker 2: superb grapple with government officials and in fact they launched




00:45:47

Speaker 2: how who work with there. So I think in both




00:45:50

Speaker 2: the neighbourhoods that were working in especially and also the




00:45:53

Speaker 2: other neighbours that have been selected under Suma,




00:45:55

Speaker 2: all of them have a very good rapport of working




00:45:57

Speaker 2: with government officials. So it's very easy to get in




00:46:01

Speaker 2: okay or to get them in bold. And we are




00:46:03

Speaker 2: currently moving into certain level of focus group discussions with




00:46:08

Speaker 2: into our design process. So yes, we are early eager




00:46:11

Speaker 2: towards We have introduced the projects and I think




00:46:13

Speaker 2: there is a lot of positive




00:46:17

Speaker 1: just just a just a listeners know that dulled is




00:46:20

Speaker 1: the Directorate of Urban Land Transport in Bangalore, and sumo




00:46:23

Speaker 1: has the sustainable mobility accord.




00:46:27

Speaker 1: So my final question to both of you guys is




00:46:30

Speaker 1: whatever so banner has you




00:46:32

Speaker 1: Bangalore has sensing local while I can all of that




00:46:36

Speaker 1: but one of the learning summit that other cities can




00:46:38

Speaker 1: apply And many Samir you can go first this time




00:46:41

Speaker 1: and then




00:46:44

Speaker 2: So you know this this thing of scale it's something




00:46:48

Speaker 2: that chases all of us as organisations, right, like you're




00:46:51

Speaker 2: forced to think about scale at every stage. And so




00:46:54

Speaker 2: our seats of scale from this is that we are




00:46:57

Speaker 2: working two words developing tool kits for these three unique




00:47:01

Speaker 2: projects




00:47:02

Speaker 2: which we believe can be available and rested, applicable across




00:47:06

Speaker 2: the scale the scale of the neighbourhood




00:47:09

Speaker 2: in any city, so it will give you will be




00:47:12

Speaker 2: almost like a guide that will tell you how to




00:47:15

Speaker 2: start identifying a plan, how to build community, how to




00:47:18

Speaker 2: start doing your audits and basic assessments of build data




00:47:23

Speaker 2: and to really build that evidence.




00:47:25

Speaker 2: However, then move it into a stage by you can




00:47:28

Speaker 2: start creating plans whether it means that you build a




00:47:32

Speaker 2: local collective of architects and designers and planners or the




00:47:35

Speaker 2: municipality actually provides support Chaudhuri building that capacity for design.




00:47:40

Speaker 2: In fact, even moving towards certain typical design interventions that




00:47:43

Speaker 2: are possible based on the situation and moving into, then




00:47:47

Speaker 2: activation and evaluation of that. So all of this is




00:47:50

Speaker 2: going to become a tool kit which can be replicated




00:47:54

Speaker 2: in any city.




00:47:56

Speaker 1: So adding to what so be a shared while this




00:47:59

Speaker 1: is still a lot of work in progress, but there




00:48:01

Speaker 1: are definitely a bunch of learning coming away. Some of




00:48:05

Speaker 1: them I can share our you know how




00:48:10

Speaker 1: engaging with the community through the system of residential associations




00:48:14

Speaker 1: are working with prominent community leaders, a counsellor mentioned. They




00:48:17

Speaker 1: are great to the polls, generally with the governments and




00:48:19

Speaker 1: likewise identifying




00:48:21

Speaker 1: and the kind of building upon these existing relationships is




00:48:25

Speaker 1: a good learning to take, because again, like these outsiders




00:48:27

Speaker 1: might not have that level of understanding or impact.




00:48:31

Speaker 1: And it's important to have that sort of a participatory approach.




00:48:35

Speaker 1: And the son of engagements will really go a long




00:48:38

Speaker 1: way in spreading awareness and locating provider of




00:48:41

Speaker 1: of whatever it has been, the focus areas, working by




00:48:44

Speaker 1: cycling or even infrastructural other. So having that community by




00:48:49

Speaker 1: is important, hence having this sort of a set up




00:48:52

Speaker 1: in different cities where there are active residential associations like




00:48:56

Speaker 1: in Delhi. We have great degree of residential welfare associations




00:49:00

Speaker 1: and prominent community leaders. That's important. Also,




00:49:04

Speaker 1: it's important for governmental agencies to pope the solution like




00:49:07

Speaker 1: if there is lack or no appetite




00:49:10

Speaker 1: to adopt, solution or work closely. 100 100 only citizen




00:49:13

Speaker 1: participation will not help. Citing that for over Bill needs




00:49:16

Speaker 1: to be there. That coupled with, like, what sob you




00:49:19

Speaker 1: mentioned about capacity buildings. Very, very important, like, you know,




00:49:22

Speaker 1: like how they're working on two kits.




00:49:24

Speaker 1: Likewise, there a day's like cycle days. Now this all




00:49:26

Speaker 1: helps is great formulation of action plans because you need




00:49:29

Speaker 1: to have the action time in hand in order to




00:49:32

Speaker 1: make that change, bring the entire community together.




00:49:35

Speaker 1: That action then, has to be more like a




00:49:39

Speaker 1: bottoms up approach at the top down one, citing that




00:49:42

Speaker 1: is another important thing to look at. Capacity building will




00:49:44

Speaker 1: really go a long way over that.




00:49:47

Speaker 1: And one more thing. I think practical interventions such as




00:49:50

Speaker 1: very short term interventions of




00:49:53

Speaker 1: which can be implemented in a timely fashion like having




00:49:56

Speaker 1: more cycle stands in the area. Improving public spaces can




00:49:59

Speaker 1: be implemented an easily replicated. So again, these can go




00:50:02

Speaker 1: in as like, you know, these are the few things




00:50:04

Speaker 1: that every neighbourhood can do or start looking at. Doing




00:50:07

Speaker 1: that does not require a lot of funding or does




00:50:10

Speaker 1: not require a lot of coordination and then also




00:50:13

Speaker 1: bending the relation, building on the relationships to take it




00:50:15

Speaker 1: or more higher level conversations. In addition to this, I




00:50:18

Speaker 1: think




00:50:19

Speaker 1: another thing that how we are thinking of scaling is




00:50:21

Speaker 1: using the policy briefs, because that really helps people get




00:50:25

Speaker 1: an insight of what's happening in my city. What, uh




00:50:28

Speaker 1: though




00:50:29

Speaker 1: some case studies which I can refer to what's happening




00:50:32

Speaker 1: in other parts of India and even globally. So I




00:50:35

Speaker 1: think these are some of the examples




00:50:37

Speaker 1: which other neighbourhoods other localities of the city's can also




00:50:40

Speaker 1: use and apply as we intend to scale a model




00:50:44

Speaker 1: like this




00:50:45

Speaker 1: where there is an equal in equal past our community




00:50:48

Speaker 1: engagement as well as work with the governmental agencies.




00:50:52

Speaker 1: So be in soup. Bonnie, Thanks so much for being




00:50:55

Speaker 1: on the show. And s mobility is no longer just




00:50:57

Speaker 1: a facilitator for commute of rate, but the very lifeline




00:51:00

Speaker 1: of the ass relation Modern Indian city. I think so.




00:51:04

Speaker 1: Thank you for detailing it for us.




00:51:05

Speaker 1: Thank you so much. A shock for having us on




00:51:08

Speaker 1: the show. I I think I just say that it's




00:51:12

Speaker 1: important to internalise mobility as an issue




00:51:15

Speaker 1: that's not only somebody else faces that we also face.




00:51:20

Speaker 1: So thinking of solution from that lance is also very,




00:51:23

Speaker 1: very important. All our contributors to the issues and we




00:51:26

Speaker 1: all can help towards solving this. Our campaign is going




00:51:29

Speaker 1: on right now. You can look at it by hashtag




00:51:32

Speaker 1: Bengaluru Moving




00:51:33

Speaker 1: joined share support Let other people know, try and replicate




00:51:37

Speaker 1: similar things in new neighbourhoods.




00:51:40

Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having us. And I think




00:51:44

Speaker 2: the one she had like to reach everyone with is




00:51:47

Speaker 2: the tagline that sensing Nofal believes in. We invite you




00:51:52

Speaker 2: all to join us in co building cities of tomorrow today.




00:51:56

Speaker 2: Thank you.