Renewing Indian Cities - The Future of JNNURM
Now that the Union Government has announced that it will not continue JNNURM in the same format, I am taking this opportunity to put forth my views on what our cities need. Please feel free to comment, agree or disagree.
My feeling is that the JNNURM funds were clearly wasted on useless projects such as the BRTS, when they could have been better utilized improving basic infrastructure. This experience is of course Pune centric and other people may have different thoughts on the subject.
With the likelihood of GST becoming a reality in the next couple of years, the GoI could really have a huge say in how the transport infrastructure within cities evolves and matures.
Note: I am not commenting on traffic offenses and the need for enforcing traffic rules as that's another blog and I hope the new Motor Act legislation will effectively deal with it.
Pay cash to the local body only if they agree to the following:
Public Transport
Privatize all public transport concerns in Metropolitan areas and let private operators run services as a for profit initiative. Then and only then are you likely to see well maintained, clean, comfortable, punctual, disciplined public transport fleets on the streets of our cities.
I realize that this would make the transportation much more expensive than it is today, but a beautiful solution is in the offing - use Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) to directly credit the required amount on the smart cards of commuters who need to use PT. People who can drive cars or two wheelers to work don't need subsidies and hence can pay to enjoy hassle free PT.
In effect, you have suddenly turned a loss making, inefficient concern into a profitable, possibly publicly listed, company. You have also removed all undue political influence and removed a major source of corruption.
Footpaths, Roads and Signals
Ensure that all footpaths across India in all cities follow the same guidelines for kerb height, width and surface. In fact, ban the hideous creations built using paving blocks and bathroom tiles. Mandate that all footpaths must either be made from cobblestones (or stamped concrete) or just plain cement concrete. Link width of a footpath to the width of the road. Additionally, mandate that kerb stones of random height and length cannot be used, ever. Plus, ask the local body to run separate piping under the footpath for storm water drains and sewer drains, and to not mix the two. Storm water must be collected in the drains under the footpaths, and should not to be run off to a larger road or intersection. In addition, make the local body install empty ducting allowing businesses to lay cables for internet, electricity and telephones for a fee. Threaten to take away all the money from the local body if a hawker is found blocking a footpath and selling his wares or preparing food in no hawking zones.
Make sure that all roads have even surfaces regardless of the technology used - tar, concrete, pollution absorbing surfaces, cobblestones, whatever. Just say no to undulating surfaces, dips, bumps and other abominable creations. On every road, lay ducts across and under the roads and connect them to the ducts below footpaths. Reduce the need to dig up roads as much as possible. If a road needs to be dug up, lay the onus on the local body to repair the road within 24 hours and bring it back to the original condition (as a side note, The Pune Municipal Corporation has been laying a water line on a busy street for the last eighteen months and expects eighteen more months to finish it. This road is only 3Km long). In fact, all road repairs should match the previous road height and not create bumps, troughs and weird slopes.
Mandate that all signals must be placed before pedestrian crossings and not after. Remove those idiotic signal timers post haste. Ensure that all cabling is under the street and mandate a turnaround time of 24 hours to fix a broken signal. Oh, and please, please dictate that the signals must run for 24 hours daily. Please utilize this excellent report on traffic signal improvements from Save Pune Traffic Movement. I am sure they can provide a copy in English if needed.
Monitoring Progress
We of course do not want a team of central inspectors examining all work of the local body, as this will only give rise to more corruption and maintain status quo. Instead, tackle this issue by using a three pronged strategy:
I think if the Union Government forces the local body to execute on these requirements even up to say 60% to 70%, we could actually have a winner.
My feeling is that the JNNURM funds were clearly wasted on useless projects such as the BRTS, when they could have been better utilized improving basic infrastructure. This experience is of course Pune centric and other people may have different thoughts on the subject.
With the likelihood of GST becoming a reality in the next couple of years, the GoI could really have a huge say in how the transport infrastructure within cities evolves and matures.
Note: I am not commenting on traffic offenses and the need for enforcing traffic rules as that's another blog and I hope the new Motor Act legislation will effectively deal with it.
Pay cash to the local body only if they agree to the following:
Public Transport
Privatize all public transport concerns in Metropolitan areas and let private operators run services as a for profit initiative. Then and only then are you likely to see well maintained, clean, comfortable, punctual, disciplined public transport fleets on the streets of our cities.
I realize that this would make the transportation much more expensive than it is today, but a beautiful solution is in the offing - use Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) to directly credit the required amount on the smart cards of commuters who need to use PT. People who can drive cars or two wheelers to work don't need subsidies and hence can pay to enjoy hassle free PT.
In effect, you have suddenly turned a loss making, inefficient concern into a profitable, possibly publicly listed, company. You have also removed all undue political influence and removed a major source of corruption.
Footpaths, Roads and Signals
Ensure that all footpaths across India in all cities follow the same guidelines for kerb height, width and surface. In fact, ban the hideous creations built using paving blocks and bathroom tiles. Mandate that all footpaths must either be made from cobblestones (or stamped concrete) or just plain cement concrete. Link width of a footpath to the width of the road. Additionally, mandate that kerb stones of random height and length cannot be used, ever. Plus, ask the local body to run separate piping under the footpath for storm water drains and sewer drains, and to not mix the two. Storm water must be collected in the drains under the footpaths, and should not to be run off to a larger road or intersection. In addition, make the local body install empty ducting allowing businesses to lay cables for internet, electricity and telephones for a fee. Threaten to take away all the money from the local body if a hawker is found blocking a footpath and selling his wares or preparing food in no hawking zones.
Make sure that all roads have even surfaces regardless of the technology used - tar, concrete, pollution absorbing surfaces, cobblestones, whatever. Just say no to undulating surfaces, dips, bumps and other abominable creations. On every road, lay ducts across and under the roads and connect them to the ducts below footpaths. Reduce the need to dig up roads as much as possible. If a road needs to be dug up, lay the onus on the local body to repair the road within 24 hours and bring it back to the original condition (as a side note, The Pune Municipal Corporation has been laying a water line on a busy street for the last eighteen months and expects eighteen more months to finish it. This road is only 3Km long). In fact, all road repairs should match the previous road height and not create bumps, troughs and weird slopes.
Mandate that all signals must be placed before pedestrian crossings and not after. Remove those idiotic signal timers post haste. Ensure that all cabling is under the street and mandate a turnaround time of 24 hours to fix a broken signal. Oh, and please, please dictate that the signals must run for 24 hours daily. Please utilize this excellent report on traffic signal improvements from Save Pune Traffic Movement. I am sure they can provide a copy in English if needed.
Monitoring Progress
We of course do not want a team of central inspectors examining all work of the local body, as this will only give rise to more corruption and maintain status quo. Instead, tackle this issue by using a three pronged strategy:
- Instill pride in the minds of the local body staff. Let them proudly put up their name on signposts saying that they built and maintain this road or this footpath or whatever. Mandate that a signpost including the project name and project code is put up at every site.
- Make independent quality audits by third party providers a must. In theory, this would be similar to an independent financial auditor.
- Use local citizen's to monitor the work - mohalla committees, NGOs that have put in serious efforts to help before must be allowed to monitor and complain directly to the JNNURM fund sanctioning authority with the project name and code.
I think if the Union Government forces the local body to execute on these requirements even up to say 60% to 70%, we could actually have a winner.
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