commuters walking to connect to other modes during peak hours. The area was explained through a film and a presentation to highlight some of the issues. The participants were given maps and stationery to be able to communicate and articulate their ideas. Interestingly though, the users engaged in a rigorous debate over the principles of SAM and later about specific solutions that can be applied to the area. The nature of the solutions proposed went beyond the realm of site-specific improvements to target the highlighted issues. For instance, a proposal to create a pedestrian path to connect the Lissie metro station with the Ernakulam town railway station led to a discussion about creating a one-way system which in turn mandated the creation of a multi-level parking lot within walking distance. The gravity of the lack of pedestrian infrastructure was recognized by the participants and extensive measures were considered for top priority. It must be pointed out that this became possible only because the relevant stakeholders could sit at the same table and argue out their points.
LEARNINGS The SAM interactive workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to learn the tools of safe access to transit stations and apply them to real-life situations. The experiment shows that the accuracy of solutions increases by including participants who are actual users of transit stations. The solutions identified through this platform are owned by the participants, and therefore enjoy the support of the agencies and citizens present. This platform can also function as a repository of ideas for the chosen station areas. It is vital for the discussions to be documented carefully and for all the opinions and arguments to be recorded in detail. As a platform that can be used in varied city contexts, WRI’s interactive workshop for Safe access provides a way forward for transparency in the design of station areas in Indian cities, contributing at the same time to improving the overall urban experience in these cities.
All images in this article are courtesy WRI India.
About the Author Himadri Das is the Program Manager for the Integrated Urban Planning track of WRI- India based in Bangalore. He works to make managerial and technical inputs in urban design and urban planning projects. He also engages with other programs within WRI- India and Global to dove-tail components to create comprehensive outputs that flow seamlessly across the diverse areas of expertise. Himadri leads the Sustainable Communities’ initiatives and publications in WRI-India. He is a co-author of the Safe Access Manual: Safe Access to Mass Transit Stations in Indian Cities. Having previously worked for organizations that advised and consulted with planning institutions in New Delhi and Ahmedabad in India as well as in Libya, Africa, Himadri brings to the table more than 15 years of experience in conceptualizing and implementing planning, urban design and architecture projects. Himadri has been actively involved in research and academics through teaching in universities in Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Bangalore in India. His research interest has led him recently to pursue a second master’s degree in Belgium, Europe. In addition to a B.Arch (Architecture) degree and an M.Arch (Urban Design) from India, he also has an advanced master’s in Human Settlements from Katholieke University of Leuven, Belgium. Himadri has been an avid urban bicyclist since early days in New Delhi, and continues to enjoy the pleasures of riding a bicycle in the city of Bangalore. His other passions include travelling, reading, photography as well as meeting and interacting with people!
June 2016 | CITY OBSERVER
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