The Government of India (GOI) through the Global Environment Facility's Sustainable Urban Transport Project is supporting the implementation of the National Urban Transport Policy (2006). The World Bank through the proposed GEF - SUTP is supporting the GOI in capacity building activities as well as in the preparation and implementation of sustainable transport demonstration projects in a number of participating cities. The cities of Ajmer (Rajasthan), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jalandhar (Punjab), Mysore (Karnataka), Naya Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Pune (Maharashtra), and Trivandrum (Kerala) form the GEF cities.
An important activity in the capacity development of the cities is the documention of their experience in the development of innovative sustainable transport programmes and the sharing of experiences between participating cities. The above is helpful in improving the planning and implementation as well as in creating a local knowledge-base for replication and advancement of sustainable transport projects in other cities in India in the future. In addition to local knowledge, information on international experience and best practices can accelerate the learning curve of national and local authorities and sector professionals.
Keeping the above in mind, EMBARQ India will conduct a City to City Peering Program that aims to connect the GEF cities with each other and enable the sharing of knowledge through the facilitation of a range of peer to peer activities. Further CST – India will provide technical support to the Indian MoUD in the organization of peer-to-peer activities between Indian cities developing sustainable transport activities, with a special focus on the GEF cities.
The main objectives of the Peer-to-Peer program will be to:
- Document the project process
- Create a continuous learning environment
- Help develop indigenous and innovative solutions
- Disseminate lessons learnt as widely as possible
- Document activities and learning's from the international study tour
- Prepare recommendations for future peering projects
GEF supported Sustainable Transport Projects include:
- A means for bringing global knowledge to help MoUD implement policy and technical measures for sustainable urban transport development as recommended in the NUTP;
- A comprehensive perspective in integrating technical, economic, social, environmental,and financial analysis in urban transport planning, project design and ensuring that the proposed investment projects for JnNURM are sound investment proposals that fit within the states and cities fiscal constraints;
- Extensive knowledge and experience in implementation, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure investments, including those relatively new types of investments, such as Bus Rapid Transit, cycle lanes, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), etc.
- Opportunities to learn good practices from, and disseminate to, a wide network of partners in the world;
- Convening powers to help facilitate the exchange of information among key stakeholders at both national and local levels.
Source: Ministry of Urban Development, GOI