We often would have dreamt of a stretch of road that would be free of traffic where kids can roam around freely, where people can stand and gossip to their heart’s content, where cyclists can pedal around happily.
This dream has been turned into reality by Hubballi Dharwad Smart City Abhivruddhi Society (HDSCAS) officials. The dream project called the Green Mobility Corridor was the idea proposed by the HDSCAS officials in a Cities Investment to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) challenge. The project’s feasibility and sustainability won over the judges and a funding grant for implementation of the project will be overseen by the European Union (EU). HDSCAS themselves would be investing INR 50 crore into the project.
The Green Mobility Corridor (GMC) project will add a feather in the cap of the HDSCAS authorities since it is the first-of-its-kind in the country. It is commendable that a tier II city has come up with a novel and innovative idea that even the metropolitans and cosmopolitan cities of the country couldn’t come up with.
The total length of the corridor will be 8.5km over the Unkal nala. The nala acts as a storm water drain. The GMC project will also include few other features such as
- Bicycle and walking tracks
- Drain lining and sewerage diversion
- Controlled flow of water in the channel
- CCTV surveillance
- Landscape design and place making
- Link with Integrated Command and Control Center
- Transportation and open spaces
- Revenue generation opportunities
- Horticulture knowledge, safe and common platform for exercise
In the first phase, a pilot project of 640 meters will be executed and in the second phase, the length will be increased to 5 kilometers. A French delegation will check the progress and approve the disbursal of funds for the third phase.
In the grander scheme of things most of the projects executed by HDSCAS are aimed at lowering the carbon footprint of the twin cities. These projects will also help in pushing India’s ranking in the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.
Address & Location
Shivagiri Park, Jain Mandir Road, Lingaraj Nagar North, Hubballi-580021