The above is a screenshot of a live web cast to which I received an invitation organized by EMBARQ India. This is EMBARQ's first annual conference titled CONNECTKaro which literally translates to 'do the connect'. In context of the conference it was an apt title signalling the need for improvement and integration of public transportation in the city of Mumbai in order to stimulate public transportation habit and usage. I attended the opening session and found a link in the key message delivered by the various speakers.
EMBARQ is the World Resources Institute's Center for Sustainable Transport. It is recognized as an independent think tank in India and other emerging economies. The conference began with an introduction from a member on WRI's Board of Directors -
Mr. Jamshyd Godrej - Emphasized on the need to realize urgency in upgrading transport fuel grades in India to Euro V and VI standards.
Mr. UPS Madan - Being the current Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority explained transportation as we see it on the roads today. He argued that widening roads and continuously building highways is not the solution to public transportation. This is not sustainable as the demand for privately owned vehicles is ever increasing.
Mr. O.P Gupta - He is the General Manager of BEST Undertaking, Mumbai's public bus service. He mentioned that road safety is very important. The city lacks public discipline as seen by overtaking private vehicles and BEST buses even on a traffic packed road. He concluded by saying 'effective public transport is clean and dignified' this is a means to get more individuals to use public transport.
Dr. Sudhir Krishna - He is Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development. He gave various examples of sustainable transportation development across India -
a) Delhi bus fare - It has played an important role in changing attitudes of bus commuters. The air conditioned buses charge Rs. 10 which has resulted in members from all economic classes to travel together in the same bus
b) As per the Union Budget 2013, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission with get 10,000 additional buses for city commuters
c) Transit Oriented Development as seen by the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial Corridor
d) Bengaluru observes a Bus Day on fourth of every month to promote public transportation. Mysore's bus depot can be compared to a 'museum'.
e) In the future mass transit projects such as metro should be under the administration of the municipal corporation of a city. Responsibility in the hands of local authorities will ensure success of such projects.
Professor Jan Gehl, video recorded message - He is the founder of Gehl Architects. In the video recording he spoke heavily on the effectiveness of walking and cycling as an effective means of non motorized transportation.
Ms. Henriette Vamberg - She is a director and Head of Gehl Cities at Gehl Architects and spoke in lieu of Professor Gehl. She suggested that city planning should develop bicycle lanes for maximum bicycle use. In many countries ministers use bicycles to get to work. This practice is not frowned upon by the citizens and instead motivates masses to embrace cycling as a daily means of commute.
Mr. Madhav Pai - He is Director at EMBARQ India and was the host of the dialogue.
In my opinion, the broad message drawn from the speeches of the speakers is requirement for change in attitude towards public demand for public goods, in this case transportation. This change in attitude will favour expansion of public transport services and as a result challenge the existence of unsustainable means of private transportation.
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