Promotion and Outreach Programme for Rainbow BRT (Phase II) in Pimpri Chinchwad
The Rainbow Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is operated by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd. The infrastructure for this transit system is being developed in phases by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). CEE has been commissioned by the PCMC to develop and implement a promotions and outreach programme as it is preparing to launch two new corridors: Nigadi to Dapodi and Kalewadi phata to Dehu-Alandi Road.
A Situation Analysis report was prepared after a public perception survey, corridor visits, discussions with elected representatives and officials, NGOs, project consultants, and analysis of the media reportage. The situation analysis presents the current transport scenario, people’s perception regarding this corridor and BRT as a whole, their needs and concerns. A Communication Strategy was prepared on the basis of this analysis.
Visits were undertaken to schools and colleges in the vicinity of the corridor. Presentations were made with a view to inform the schools and students about the features of the Rainbow BRT and safe usage, as well as to highlight the need for a shift to sustainable mobility modes. Concerns expressed by school managements in relation to the students’ usage of the corridor were noted and communicated to the municipal officials. Signage for stations and terminals has been prepared, as well as outreach materials for the future launch of BRT services in the new corridors, including radio jingles, banners and hoardings on safe usage of the corridor, and route information flyers for existing and potential bus commuters. Reportage in the print media is being monitored to track for comprehensiveness and accuracy of information about BRT.
Public Engagement for Preparation of the Pune Cycle Plan
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has commissioned the preparation of a Comprehensive Bicycle Plan for Pune through a project supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. PMC has engaged iTrans, Prasanna Desai Architects and Centre for Environment Education (CEE) as the team of consultants to prepare the draft Pune Cycle Plan, work on which started in 2016.
CEE’s role is public engagement for inputs to the plan. Extensive public engagement was sought through ward level consultations, stakeholder consultations, including with bicycle shops, cyclists, non-cyclists, school representatives, youth/colleges, corporates and CSR, public bike share vendors, etc. Two rounds of public consultations were conducted as part of the process of preparing this plan. A Preliminary Draft of Pune Cycle Plan was published in August 2017, providing the results of the studies and detailed provisions for cycle improvement. Public inputs were sought on this preliminary draft through the second round of consultations, meetings and surveys conducted in August and September 2017. Meetings were organised at ward offices for Prabhag Samitis and with citizens groups. Information about the preliminary provisions was also shared through newspaper articles, website and social media. Over 11000 individuals were directly engaged in different ways through these forums, in addition to the dissemination of information through newspapers, website and social media. The Plan was approved by the PMC General Body in December 2017 and is currently being implemented.
Advocacy for Road Safety in Maharashtra
CEE, in collaboration with Parisar, is implementing a project on advocacy for road safety improvements in Maharashtra. The project aims to support the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017 which introduces certain specific clauses like stricter enforcements and increased penalties for promoting safer road user behaviour, protection to Good Samaritans and promoting safe driving, safe vehicles and safe roads. During the year, CEE facilitated the formation of a Road Safety Network which is a coalition of civil societies from different cities in Maharashtra advocating for the passage of the bill to the members of the parliament and councils of the states. CEE was involved in developing the brand identity for the network, a website on road safety, and an outreach strategy for engaging different stakeholders for public advocacy. The larger project is supported by the Global Road Safety Programme.
Knowledge Management for Sustainable Use of Groundwater in Pune City
CEE, with support from Wipro and in partnership with Acwadam, has undertaken to identify key issues and evolve management solutions related to groundwater in Pune city. As part of this, CEE interviewed several experts and conducted a survey of bore-wells, dug-wells and groundwater related structures including natural springs in Aundh, Baner and Pashan areas of the city. Further, a consultation workshop was held with experts and citizens to understand groundwater dependence and evolve participatory solutions. The aim is to initiate a Knowledge Management Platform to provide systemic solutions related to groundwater management in Pune city. CEE also collaborated with Mission Groundwater, a citizens’ initiative, for conducting studies and reaching out to housing societies for promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. The future plans include further participatory studies to monitor groundwater usage in the city and to develop options of urban groundwater governance and management.
Public Deliberation on Streets and Mobility
CEE has organised public deliberation processes around civic issues with the view that well-designed public deliberation processes can bring clarity, transparency and accountability in public governance. Proposed projects can be more closely attuned to the needs of the public, and social learning about the issues and solutions can ensue.
In September and October 2017, CEE took up a public deliberation around street design and mobility needs of the Aundh neighbourhood within the smart city area of Pune. The CEE-led civic process was combined with a field research by masters’ level students as part of a Winter Institute programme of 10 days duration in October 2017. This activity was undertaken as a collaboration between CEE and the Centre for Urban Policy and Governance at the School of Habitat Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. The students studied street usage, interviewed different users of streets, shopkeepers, residents, senior citizens, street vendors, waste collectors, community leaders, political leaders, elected representatives, etc. The public deliberation event assembled a ‘mini public’ from among these segments of society in Aundh and surrounding areas. The day-long deliberation yielded priorities and concerns for streets and mobility planning. The report has been submitted to the civic authorities.
Stakeholder Deliberations on the Cycle Rickshaw
The Cycle Rickshaw has been and continues to be a mobility solution in many cities in India, and especially in Bihar and Jharkhand. It is also a source of livelihood for many urban poor and seasonal migrants to cities. The sector needs attention for improvement as an occupational sector as well as for how it is integrated into mobility services. The Sustainable Urban Mobility Network (SUM Net), of which CEE is a member, is arranging stakeholder deliberations in several towns in Bihar and Jharkhand, on the need for and possible contours of a legislation to enable improvements to the sector.
CEE Urban, in collaboration with SUM Net, designed a methodology for stakeholder deliberations. The attempt was to facilitate discussions with multiple stakeholders including the cycle rickshaw community, i.e., cycle rickshaw pullers and owners of cycle rickshaws, commuters, social activists, and others. The activities undertaken as part of this project were :
The outputs of the deliberations will be synthesised and considered in the preparation of the draft bill text, and used to plan state level deliberations to be conducted in the following year.
Established as a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
