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AAROHANAM 2019

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Topics for The Conference

The main topic for the conference is “Futuristic Sustainable Financial
Mechanisms for Indian Cities”
The 4 major topics to be covered under the main heading are:
1. Spatial Planning
2. Environment
3. Transport and Transit Orient Development
4. Water Resources
With reference to the above mentioned topics, sub-topics for the conference could
be categorized as the following:
1. TRANSIT AND SPATIAL PLANNING

i. Ahmedabad Mumbai Bullet Train Project- Triggering development in

Maharashtra and Ahmedabad.

The MAHSR Project will connect the bustling economic corridors in the state of Gujarat
and Maharashtra covering the distance of 508.09 kms, being India’s first High Speed rail
Project. The route will start from Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai and will end near
Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmedabad. The said high speed rail corridor would have
12 stations i.e. Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara,
Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. The estimated completion cost of the project is Rs.
1,08,000 crores.
There is a need to analyze the positive impact of this project on the economic growth of

the coverage area of the project and how does it leads to rise in Gross Domestic Product.
The high speed connectivity project aims to attract investments in the affected region
ushering the connectivity as well as transit oriented development along the corridor.
The project will foster the urban development in terms of high rise buildings, land
acquisition of the lands under this project, infrastructure development,Real estate
development,hi-technologies and smart solutions. High speed, a significant reduction in
travel time and wider reach, offers very different propositions to the spatial geographies.
The other impacts of this project is the to improve the quality of life of the residents

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leading to more productivity.The project will bring speed and will account for
employment of 4000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs.
Contribution to this theme have a joint focus of government sector, researchers (student,
academicians, professionals) and the real estate developers who aligns their core area of
work with land value capture, high economic growth and transit oriented development.
Also, the theme looks upon the impact of the high speed rail projects in the Indian cities.

ii. Capturing the innovative Financial Models for Metro Rail Development

A good public transport system is one of the defining features of a city, generating
multiple far reached benefits, enhancing sustainable living, attracting residents,
businesses, daily commuters, and tourists. There is a large scale economic value
associated with the Rail Based Public Transport Systems like MRTS/LRTS/RRTS which
is necessary for the inclusive and sustainable development of the cities.The fiscal
challenge to government is related to budgetary pressure of recovering the loans invested
for the project.Thus, there is a need to find alternative funding and seek different
governance frameworks to implement rail projects.
MRTS Corridor brings in Increase in catchment areas, due to which newer areas become
accessible and increase in real estate valuations, due to increased accessibility,
infrastructure development and economic development. The “Rail Plus Property” model
of Hong Kong is the one of the successful example of Development based Land Value
Capture used for financing Mass Transit Railway. Contribution of this theme aims at the
qualatative literature review from Global best practices identifying the key challenges
and oppurtunities for the Mumbai city. It focusses on the impact assessment of Land
Value Capture Mechanisms of the MRTS project on the vicinity.The contribution from
Government can be based on the station development of the metro stations. Also to
develop a stratgeic and innovative value capture process framework to guide to delivery
of value capture funded new urban rail for Indian cities.

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iii. Rapid Rail Transit System

National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) – a Joint Sector company of

Govt of India and States of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh is mandated for
implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project across the National
Capital Region, ensuring a balanced and sustainable urban development through better
connectivity and access.The positive impact of this system on NCR region can be
explained into 3 categories: Sustainable Development, Balanced Economic Growth and
Lower Emission and Congestion.
The goal of sustainable urban development can be achieved from fast transit in NCR
region including National Capital Territory of Delhi. It will activate processes which will
enable sustainable economic and social development with environmental protection, for
future generations.
Seamless. high speed .connectivity will result in balanced economic development across
the Region leading to economic benefits to all strata of society and many nodes of
development rather than all economic activity happening at one place.
The Project is environment friendly im terms of low carbon emission as it is a high speed
occupying 3m space on land which will also reduce the congestion on the roads. Overall
it will significantly reduce the total emission from the transport sector in NCR.
The contribution of this theme aims at targeting current status and feasibility study of
these projects in NCR Region and role of government as well as the private players in
exploring alternative revenue source like rental (inside the stations), property
development and transit oriented development (TOD).Also, it widens the horizon for the
provision of logistics services through RRTS corridors in NCR region which will
facilitate restricting the ever-rising pollution and congestion situation in NCR.It is an
oppurtunity for the priavte players to explore their beneficial participation in the
operation and maintenance of the projects.

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2. WATER RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL MECHANISMS

iv. Analyzing the Status of Ground Water in Indian Mega Cities-Need of

the Hour.
Indian population consumes upto 581 trillion litres of water annually and of which they
are majorly used for irrigation, domestic and industrial use. The country will need 1,200
billion cubic metres of water by 2025, and 1,447 billion cubic metres by 2050. The
Government of India aims to connect 90% of rural households with piped water supply
by 2022. Indian cities depend on either surface water, or ground water, and more
commonly on a mix of ground and surface water. There is a high dependency of Indian
cities on Groundwater but the extent and nature of this dependence is in poor condition.
According the Economic Survey,2017, 21 Indian cities – including Delhi, Bengaluru,
Chennai and Hyderabad – will run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting 100 million
people; 40 percent of India’s population will have no access to drinking water by 2030.
The need of the hour is to analyse the current situation of the groundwater in the Indian
Mega Cities to bring out innovative solutions to access the gap.
Contribution of this theme can be for the government sector where in interventions and
policies can be made for improving the condition of the ground water. Public Private
Partnership Models for the innovative and sustainable financial mechanisms can be
worked for the improved condition of the ground water level. Also, global case studies to
be referred for making groundwater accessible to the citizens of the mega
cities.Involvement of NGO’s to take up an inititative regarding the depelting condition of
the groundwater level.

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v. Ganga Cleaning Campaign-

The Ganga River Basin is one of the largest living river systems in the world, the main
stem of the river flows through 5 states of India however the entire catchment provides
water to 11 states. The Ganga Basin supports numerous diverse ecosystems, from the
alpine forests near Gaumukh to the plains of northern India to the mangrove forests and
saline mud flats of West Bengal.
More than 500 million citizens are dependent on the river for life yet the sad fact about
the river is the spreading pollution denying vast populations of their rights to water.
The issue have led to snatching away of its beauty and sanctity of a holy river which is
worshipped by billion people.Yet, while the problems are numerous, they are not
insurmountable. Based on the current condition, area of focus by the government and
NGO’s can bring various initatives to clean Ganga like the restoring the ecological flows
at every point along the course, preventing and curtailing all waste water, starting with
sewage and industrial waste, from mixing with the river etc. This would be the
contribution of the theme towards for the conservation and rejevenation of the river by
government and the NGO’s. The theme also focusses on the collaborations with
International countries which could join hands for the river rejuvenation.

vi. Rejuvenation of River Cauvery-Need to hear the voice!

Cauvery, flowing perennial in the regions of Karnataka has been the source of wellbeing
for large group of people which brings prosperity and the very source of life for these lands.
A forest-fed perennial river is fast becoming a seasonal stream as 87% of tree cover has
been removed in 50 years. The river is facing serious issues such as depletion over 40%
and loss of 87% of basin original tree cover. These issue have led to distress among the
dependent farmers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka who were hit hard by the drought and
committed suicides. In the need for saving the tree cover, Isha Foundation came up with
one of its kind Campaign of “ Cauvery Calling” which aims to plant 242 crore trees along
the Cauvery river and has called for people to donate Rs 42 per tree.
The contribution of this theme is towards the environment and water body where people
and government can join hands to work for the restoration of the trees at the basin.One of
the solution to it is Agroforestry can also be defined as a dynamic, ecologically based,
natural resource management system that, through the integration of trees on farms and in
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the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social,
economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels. In particular, agroforestry
is crucial to smallholder farmers and other rural people because it can enhance their food
supply, income and health according to Food and Agricultural organisation. The theme
also challenges the consquences of the idea of the agro forestry .

3. ECOLOGY AND FLOODING CITIES

Failure of Disaster Risk Reduction in Kerala Floods

Disaster Risk Reduction is the most prominent theme for Disaster Management where it is
not possible to eliminate the disasters and its associated risks. But there are possibilities of
reducing the damage cuased by it with precautions and care. India is prone to various
natural and manmade disasters. The country has faced several devastating disasters
including earthquakes, tsunamis and river floods in recent years. Accordingly India was
one of the pioneering countries to establish a three level disaster management institutional
set up. Considerable time has elapsed since the enactment of the Disaster Management Act
in 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority which was conceived as the apex
planning and supervising body, was found ineffective in its functioning in most of the core
areas. It neither had information and control over the progress of work at the state level nor
was it successful in implementation of various projects. Coordination between NDMA and
nodal ministries for various disasters need to be improved. Roles and responsibilities
amongst the apex bodies at the national level need to be clearly specified.
Kerala with 3.3 crore population is recognised for its higher achievements in Human
Development and among the top 5 Indian states in terms of Per Capita State Domestic
Product as per the report by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation,
Government of India. But on the other hand it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and
the changing climatic dynamics given its location along the sea coast and with a steep
gradient along the slopes of the Western Ghats. 39 Hazrads were categorised as Naturally
Triggered Hazards and Anthropgenically Triggered Hazards by the Kerala State Disaster

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Management Plan and Kerala being densely populated state suffers maximum loss of
human lives.
Between June 1 and August 18, 2018, Kerala experienced the worst ever floods in its
history since 1924. During this period, the state received cumulative rainfall that was 42%
in excess of the normal average. This led to devastating situation in the state as well as loss
of more than 500 people, displacement of 1.4 million people and 5.4 million people were
affected. Due to such high rainfall, there was an absence of appreciable storage in reservoirs
upstream, along with the shrinkage of carrying capacities of lakes, rivers, and the porous
land.
The limited capacity of Vembanad Lake and Thottappally Spillways worsened the flooding
in the Kuttanad region and the backwaters. Many areas were submerged under water for
more than two week read the report Kerala Floods and Landslides 2018, Rapid Damage
and Needs Assessment Report, Government of Kerala / World Bank / Asian Development
Bank, September 2018.
The theme looks for policy frameworks for the disaster reduction in the affected region
and post disaster steps to bring back the beauty of the place.

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