Health through Innovation in Transit Facility Design

Transcription

1 Health through Innovation in Transit Facility Design A Case of Metro Rail Transit System in Chennai, India Healthy City Design - International Congress, London Oct

2 India s Urbanization Challenges The number of census towns in India between the time period of 2001 and 2011 rose by 185%. (census 2011) India s urban population currently stands at around 33% of the total population. In absolute numbers, about 440 million people from India s total population of 1.34 billion are urban dwellers. (worldometers.info) This is still a large number considering India s overall population is around 18% of the whole world s population. (worldometers.info) Between 2015 and 2031, the pace of urbanization is likely to increase at a CAGR of 2.1%, which is estimated to be almost double of China s growth rate. (Hindu 2016) Only a few Cities in India promise better economic prospects leading to much more pressure on their infrastructure and housing resulting in disordered urbanization. This is reflected in almost 65.5 million people who live in urban slums and sprawls (Census 2011)

3 People, Cities, Quality of Life & Well Being A Symbiotic Relationship Mind Body The environment acts, through function, upon the organism and conversely the organism acts, through function, upon the environment. - Patrick Geddes (Cities in Evolution) Well Being Soul

4 The Quality of Life Outdoor Life / Nature Mind Body Well Being Soul

5 The Quality of Life Public Life: Interaction, Conversation, Observation & Participation Mind Body Well Being Soul

6 The Quality of Life Clean, Pollution Free, Safe, Active Public Spaces Mind Body Well Being Soul

7 The Quality of Life Easy, Seamless, Comfortable & Liveable Urban Environment for all Mind Body Well Being Soul

8 The Quality of Life

9 Instead About 70 million people are afflicted by diabetes with a higher prevalence in urban India (about 6 times) than that of rural India (cardiasearch.org) India also has high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity - 20 million Indians are obese today with 70 million projected by 2025; 20% of Indians suffer from hypertension. Most of these in Urban areas Mortality from major Communicable and Non Communicable diseases 2030 (World wide) Mortality from major Communicable and Non Communicable diseases 2008 (India) Major Causes: Urbanization Stress Exposure to Pollution Reduced Physical Activity Hygiene Food Choices

10 Instead The range of disorders and deviancies associated with urbanization is enormous. Some of the disorders are severe mental disorders, depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, crime, family disintegration, and alienation

11 And the External Environment suffers too Emissions Loss of Natural Habitat and patterns Waste Pollution And much more.

12 The Urban Environment Ambient Outdoor Noise in Chennai, is dba Leq, one of the highest in country at par with Bengaluru, Delhi and Kolkata standing second to Mumbai. (CPCB Aug 2011) Chennai has recorded the highest number of road accidents in India (ADSI 2011), with a staggering 9,845 cases in the year 2011, the highest among the studied 53 cities. Statistically speaking, PM10 levels have increased from 32 microgram per cu m in 2007 to 94 microgram per cu m in 2011 (a 193 per cent jump) increasing at 29 per cent a year in Chennai. The situation is very unique and challenging. Chennai has the second highest car ownership of 127 Cars per 1000 population next only to Delhi which is at 157. (TERI Jun 2014). But Delhi s vehicle density (vehicles/km of Road) is just 245 as compared to 2093 of Chennai. (ToI, May ) which is highest in the country

13 The Urban Environment Average commute time in Chennai is 72 minutes by private cars, which means that on an average 72 minutes are spent driving a car which is a closed isolated environment. Average vehicular speeds on major roads down from 36 kmph and 28 kmph during 15 years from to a further low of 20 kmph in (Report by the State Level Committee on Road Connectivity and Traffic Improvements in Chennai, 2008 (HHL 2008) & ToI 2015) A vehicle on road for every two people living in Chennai. (Wikipedia - Chennai Traffic Police Surveys 2012) A major shortfall in projected modal share of public transport (As per CCTS 2010 and HHL 2008-pessimistic scenario). Projected Share 55%, Estimated Actual Share 36%.

14 The City is for People And their time is valuable. Because of the nature of design of our cities, where a lot of emphasis on planning for automobile has been placed ever since the industrial revolution and the invention of cars, we have been able to make just that. Cities for the automobile. It is imperative that even while planning for a transit based city, the focus be brought back to People instead of the vehicle. Only then, can we achieve the desired quality of life and state of well being in our cities.

15 Chennai Public Transport Chennai urban Railway system Sub urban electric train (1931) North Line, Southline & Westline MRTS line (1995) Metro line (2015) Bus transport Metropolitan Transport Cooperation Chennai Mini Bus Year 1639 : Village of Madraspatnam or Chennapatnam by East India Company Year th most populous metropolitan area in India -31st largest urban area in the world. Population:10,435,000 (world population review 2 017) Healthy City Design - International Congress, London Oct

16 Chennai MRTS The original intent Central government and State Government jointly invested approximately Rs crores. The Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System, a state-owned subsidiary of Indian Railways, is a metropolitan Railway Line and is a part of the wider urban rail network of Chennai. The MRTS was: Intended to provide a transport system, which is quicker, safer, more economical and also pollution free. Conceptualized in 1971 to connect the north to South Chennai and to loop and connect the newer development in the south west Chennai.

17 ..the reality Macro Level Issues Lack of synergy between various modes of public transport in terms of location of interchanges, accessibility to stations and bus stands. Many bus routes run parallel to the train network affecting ridership and viability of each other No feeder bus system to ensure end to end services to passengers Last Mile Connectivity with appropriately designed pedestrian facilities and spaces is completely missing

18 Poor transit links - delayed/ long waiting time..the reality Macro Level Issues Expensive The MRTS stations are huge empty buildings which failed to link to the neighborhoods they were catering to, both physically and visually. Around 9% (CAG- 06) of the floor area is being used and the rest unused. Proximity to Buckingham Canal poses structural threats to most MRTS Stations. Buckingham canal, an old waterway, is currently in degenerated condition and is a source of visual and olfactory pollution

19 ..the reality Unutilized /underutilized and misused building and interior spaces Lack of any aesthetic quality /positive sense of the place. Empty large dark spaces.

20 ..the reality Compromised/Unsafe Access Conflict with vehicle and people

21 ..the reality In sensitive development affecting an old waterway Buckingham canal

22 ..the reality Insensitive to community. Lack of concern to the user Insensitive development wrt landuse, local character and neighbourhood scale

23 MRTS stations in closer view Location & land use Unique features CHINDRADRIPET PARK STATION KOTURPURAM TRIPLICANE Central Chennai Land use : - commercial - Public buildings Central Chennai - Residential - institution Peripheral Chennai - Mixed Residential - Institution -Heritage buildings -Dense road network -State level - railways hub -Heritage Buildings -Old Residential layout More no.of schools -Planned layout -Inter networked road system - Schools and univ MRTS Station MRTS bus link Suburban Chennai - Residential - Mixed residential -Developing sector New housing, commercial and corporate office building types

24 Case study 1: Chindhadripet-Park Town station Unique features - Heritage buildings Dense road network State level - railways hub

25 Case study 2: Triplicane /Thiruvallikeni Unique features - Heritage Buildings Old Residential layout More numbers of schools

26 Case study 3: Kasthuribai Nagar Unique features - Planned layout Inter networked road system Schools, University, Hospitals

27 Pointers to a good Public Transport System 1. Is it easily Accessible 2. Is it Affordable and Cost Effective 3. Is it Reliable and Predictable 4. Is it Safe 5. Is it Comfortable 6. Is it Seamless And above all is it designed with the users in mind, not just statistically, but also physically. User friendly designs go a long way in ensuring that people actually use the system and take pride in doing so. And the most important thing that makes any infrastructure project financially and economically viable is ultimately the use

28 Way Forward There is a need to analyze all the modes of public transport system, the suburban, the MRTS, the Metro and the local buses, as a single network in conjunction with IPT, pedestrian facilities, land use and population densities and compositions. Seamless transition between various modes of public transport like suburban trains, MRTS, Metro Rail and bus network not just physically through intersections, IPT, feeder buses and pedestrian facilities but also through electronic ticketing and smart systems to facilitate ease of moving from one mode to another. MRTS stations and a few suburban stations have a huge potential once they are redeveloped as urban catalysts in response to the neighborhoods. Private sector assistance can be explored here in form of PPP options. Smart bus stands can be explored with information systems and physical designs that promote speedy passenger movements. Last mile connectivity must be ensured by designing feeder bus systems, subways, active pedestrian zones and safe and shaded pathways

29 Way Forward Architecture and Urban Design of the transit facilities must keep in mind climatic comfort and social and heritage aspects of the neighborhood A passenger information system in form of mobile App could be designed to track and plan the journeys. Park and Ride concepts can be implemented once the pedestrian facilities are in place. There is a need to look at congestion pricing as a means to improve the usage of public transport facilities and reduce congestion and pollution levels.

30 Way Forward Emphasize the healthy city concept as a process which would require efforts from governments and people both in terms of resources and efforts. The innovations in Transit Facility design for healthy living is not a simple, self-evident, scientific concept, rather, it is an increasingly contextual idea which must be customized to the needs, culture and climate of a place.