SUM Net Workshop in Delhi explores Importance and Challenges of Urban Mobility
SUM Net Workshop in Delhi explores Importance and Challenges of Urban Mobility
SUM Net Workshop in Delhi explores Importance and Challenges of Urban Mobility
SUM Net's North/North-East workshop on 'Importance of Urban Transportation in Democratic Urban Transformation: Concerns, Challenges, Ideas and Solution' organized by Institute for Democracy and Sustainability (IDS) on November 15-17, 2013 at Gandhi Peace Foundation in New Delhi. SUM Net (Sustainable Urban Mobility Network) seeks to improve the overall quality of life for all, by securing deeply democratic processes of decision-making to ensure that urban transportation systems are 1) universally accessible, 2) socially just, 3) safe and secure, 4) economically viable and 5) environmentally sound.
The workshop was focused on sharing and building knowledge, skills and unique solutions to urban mobility with participants from various States to proactively engage them with issues of urban transport. Participants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam, Uttarakhand and Delhi were present in the workshop.
Prof Dinesh Mohan (TRIPP, IIT-Delhi) delivered the inaugural speech on the first day of the workshop. In his speech he pointed out the danger pedestrians and cyclists face in the cities, but villagers don't at that scale because following their pressing demands, they have constructed and managed speed breakers on every road. He suggested consulting and contacting good politicians and people in the society to raise a voice for sustainable urban mobility in the cities. In the afternoon the participants visited the Delhi BRT Corridor, where Ruchi Varma, an architect from Delhi, helped them to understand the system.
On the second day, Prof Geetam Tiwari (IIT, Delhi), Ms Romi Roy (Deputy Director, DDA, Delhi), Navdeep Asija (Ecocabs Fazilka) and Sujit Patwardhan (Parisar, Pune) were resource persons who enlighten the participants through their inputs about Urban Mobility and its importance and various challenges. Navdeep Asija explained the inspiring stories of Fazilka experience. Talking about the Metro rail, Prof Geetam Tiwari stated that when one kilometer of the Metro track was constructed, around 300 crores were spent without any hesitance. She said that when the people use so many means of transport why do policy makers, while formulating policies, only prioritize car users and overlook pedestrians, cyclist and the rickshaw pullers. Ms. Romi Roy expressed her concerns about resolving social conflict through design in the urban transport. Sujit Patwardhan made a presentation on what policies such as NUTP say. Activities exploring Urban Transport and Envisioning Sustainable Transport – Policy Formulation were taken up with participants. A Film Pedal Soldiers of India was screened, which demonstrated the problems and issues of pedestrians in a city.
Expressing their solidarity to the SUM Net, participants made commitments on the last day of the workshop. They committed to do many activities in their cities such as launching of people's manifesto, publications, press conferences, formation of Cycle and Rickshaw unions, and organizing rallies and workshops with local participants and road users.
