KOCHI: The City Corporation has initiated measures to implement the European Union-funded Urban Pathway project in the city soon which will follow a structured approach to boost low Carbon plans for urban mobility, energy and waste management. Kochi is the only city selected in India as the pilot partner of the project which is partnered by U.N. Habitat, Wuppertal Institute and U.N. Environment. The global project will develop normative guides and national action plans and local implementation concepts in emerging economies in Brazil, India, Kenya and Vietnam.
During a workshop organised recently to discuss proposals and recommendations for project implementation, it was observed that encouraging public transport and proper waste management can considerably reduce carbon emission in Kochi.
“Proper restructuring and re-routing of buses is needed to encourage public transport in the city as nearly half of the city’s residents are still out of the public transport network. Though new roads and bridges have been constructed, city buses are still plying through the traditional routes and south and north rail over bridges are still the only entry and exit points to the city. A comprehensive restructuring of bus routes is essential to decongest the arterial roads which will also attract more people to public transport,” said former Mayor K.J Sohan.
The workshop also discussed ways to prevent waste dumping into water bodies and the significance of waste treatment at source. Addressing the workshop, Mayor Soumini Jain hoped that the Urban Pathway project would help to create a modern and eco-friendly Kochi.
