By Tim-Sören Hohmann
For the third year in a row the sustainable urban transport project (SMART-SUT) supported as a knowledge partner the partner Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to run the Urban Mobility India conference (UMI). It took place on 9th November 2020. Due to COVID19 this year it was a digital conference.
Overall, as a result of Indo-German technical cooperation four activities have been launched by the partner MoHUA during UMI:
- The Indo-German Green Urban Mobility Partnership (GUMP) was formally launched. Durga Shanker Mishra (Secretary, MoHUA) and Dr. Claudia Warning (BMZ, Director-General for Asia) jointly revealed the new logo. EUR 1 billion is to be committed by the German side over 5 years for the implementation of corresponding projects within the framework of technical and financial cooperation for the expansion of public transport in India. The implementation of this agreement is to be accompanied by a policy dialogue between the Indian and German sides to jointly achieve effective international contributions to fighting climate change.
- Tactical urbanism is a city and/or citizen-led, quick and affordable way to test and demonstrate change in our physical environments. It can be used to implement new street designs that give more space to cycling and walking. The Tactical Urbanism Guidebook (link) is relevant to citizens, experts and urban local bodies alike. It draws on learnings from several case studies from Indian cities over the past five years to explore five thematic intervention areas to effect change in our streets and public spaces
- The Executive Programme in Sustainable Transport (link), aims to sensitize in-service transport professionals at state and city level for new emerging areas and subsectors in transport, their inter-relationships and role in achieving sustainability.
- SMART MOVE – Innovative Urban Mobility Challenge (link) is an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs supported by the Smart Cities Mission, the National Institute of Urban Affairs and GIZ India. It invites students and academics to co-create data-powered sustainable digital solutions to help Indian cities plan their transport systems more effectively.
The SMART-SUT project contributed by engaging international speakers who broadened the perspective of technical discussions. By the participation of a Deutsche Bahn representative, the linkages of German companies to the Indian market could be deepened. Furthermore, a communication company hired by SMART-SUT increased the outreach of the conference.
Two of SMART-SUT’s main project partners won awards for “Innovations in Urban Transport during COVID19” in the conference: From the city of Bhubaneswar, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) won the “Award of Excellence”. From the city of Kochi, the Ernakulam Jilla Auto Drivers’ Co-op Society (EJADCS) won the “Award for Commendable Initiative”.
Media agencies and newspapers published news on the conference mentioning GIZ. Especially SMART-SUT’s support to EJADCS which led to winning the award was reported on by well-known newspapers such as The Hindu and New Indian Express among others.
Concluding, the support to Urban Mobility India conference 2020 by GIZ and SMART-SUT can be called a great success. Awareness for the need of transition to sustainable transport has been created.
All recordings of UMI conference can be watched on YouTube (link).
For updates on activities under the Indo-German Green Urban Mobility Partnership follow us on twitter (@giztransportIN).
Launch of GUMP logo – Mr. Jaideep (Joint Secretary, MoHUA), Mr. Hardeep S Puri (Minister, MoHUA), Mr. Durga Shanker Mishra (Secretary, MoHUA
Dr. Claudia Warning (BMZ, Director-General for Asia) speaking at UMI