Bicycle project in Diu bags Volvo sustainability award

The Centre for Green Mobility, based in Ahmedabad, has been awarded the Volvo Mobility Sustainability Award 2014 for its project ‘Diu Bicycle Network Planning & Infrastructure Design’. The initiative was laid out with the key objective of encouraging the use of bicycles, and supports it by providing a safe ‘Right of Way’ to cyclists.

As a result, Diu, a union territory, has been presented as ‘India’s cycling destination’. The current plan includes over 30 km cycling track in Diu along with required infrastructure of which 4.2km has already been implemented.

G-Auto received the first runner up award for its initiative to organise the largest non-public mass transport system of India, the auto rickshaw. This aims to empower commuters with help of technology and at the same time train drivers enabling them to enhance their incomes. G-Auto has signed MoUs with East Delhi Municipal Corporation, Surat Police, Baroda Municipal Corporation and Rajkot Municipal Corporation for implementation of the project in the respective cities.

The Centre has recommended that all states replicate the initiative.

The second-runner up honours was given to Guwahati-based Centre for Rural Development (CRD) for its project “Rickshaw Bank: A Lifeline for the Rickshaw Pullers”. The project aims to provide a puller with a newly-designed rickshaw, besides providing social security, and training. The pilot phase has been launched in Guwahati and is slated to be introduced outside of Assam.

The initiative is also being spearheaded in the cities like Varanasi, Allahabad and Lucknow and later handed over to the local organisations.

The Corporation of Chennai was given a special recognition for its entry titled “Chennai Street Design Project”. The Corporation intends to bring in a shift from car-centric development, to pedestrian-friendly and public transport-oriented mixed use development.

Instituted in 2011 by Volvo Buses in India, the Volvo Sustainable Mobility Awards aims to recognise outstanding efforts in the broad area of sustainable mobility. The 4th Edition of the wards saw participation from stakeholders including NGOs/citizen groups, government organisations, consultancies, and students/student groups. This year the category of second runner up was added, with total prize money of Rs 12 lakhs.