Greater Chennai Corporation to Develop Non-Motorized Transport Infrastructure on 200 Km of Roads

The Greater Chennai Corporation plans to develop a non-motorized transport system along 200 km of roads at an estimated cost of ₹200 crore. The project aims to promote beautification and safety for senior citizens and students. The NMT infrastructure will include wider footpaths, better designed intersections, and street furniture. However, the project faces challenges such as damaged infrastructure, lack of coordination, and unclear vending zones. The cycle sharing system has also seen limited success.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), India's fourth-largest metropolis, is embarking on an ambitious ₹200 crore project to develop a non-motorized transport (NMT) system along 200 km of roads [1]. This initiative, which aims to promote beautification, safety, and sustainable urban mobility, includes wider footpaths, better-designed intersections, and street furniture [1].

The project builds upon Chennai's 2014 NMT Policy, which prioritizes walking and cycling and discourages the use of personal motor vehicles [1]. With one-third of all trips in the city already made on foot and bicycle [1], the GCC's Chennai Street Design Project aims to make these trips safer, healthier, and more enjoyable [1].

However, the project faces challenges, such as damaged infrastructure, lack of coordination, and unclear vending zones [2]. For instance, Arun Kumar, a daily commuter, expresses concerns about the safety of walking on the roads due to the risk of being hit by vehicles [2].

Despite these challenges, the GCC has already implemented over 50 km of high-quality footpaths [1]. The progressive NMT Policy has inspired cities like Chandigarh and Nairobi to adopt similar initiatives [1].

The GCC aims to achieve ambitious goals, such as building safe and continuous footpaths on at least 80% of all streets, increasing the share of walking and cycling trips to over 40%, and eliminating pedestrian and cyclist deaths [1]. By prioritizing NMT, the GCC is taking a significant step towards creating a sustainable and livable urban environment.

References:

[1] ITDP India. (2023, February 14). Chennai NMT Policy. Retrieved February 14, 2023, from https://nmttoolkit.itdp.org/guide/nmt-casestudies/chenai-nmt-policy/

[2] Citizen Matters. (2023, February 14). Chennai Non-Motorised Transport Policy: GCC, CUMTA, Pedestrians, Cyclists. Retrieved February 14, 2023, from https://citizenmatters.in/chennai-non-motorised-transport-policy-gcc-cumta-pedestrians-cyclists/