[sustran] Fwd: Sustainable living should be part of political agenda: Navdeep Asija

[Asija, Navdeep]

Vineet Gill, TNN | Mar 1, 2014, 01.51AM IST

GURGAON: Navdeep Asija is an expert on road safety and sustainable
transport who currently works as the technical adviser for the Punjab
government's transport department. Having made his way from Chandigarh to
Gurgaon last Sunday, Asija was among the many Raahgiri Day participants. He
spoke to TOI about the impact this event has had on the general mindset,
and about how sustainable development may soon become a talking point for
politicians.

*How important is it to have dedicated stretches for non-motorized
transport on urban roads today?*

Actually, this comes under the fundamental rights. There is a court
judgment from the '80s which talks about 'right to healthy living.' The
latest National Transport Policy also talks about this in pressing terms.
Right to walk, to cycle, and to breathe clean air is a constitutional
right. It was only recently, in the year 2010, that the Punjab and Haryana
high court issued a directive to both these neighbouring states, asking
them to have at least one car-free street in each of their cities. So
authorities in Gurgaon, sooner or later, are bound to pay heed to these
directives, even if they seem a little reluctant as of now to fully embrace
the new sustainability agenda.


*What, according to you, explains this reluctance on the part of the local
civic agencies?*

I found that they are very pro-motorized transport in some way, which is
very sad. Since our policy makers travel in cars, all they basically want
to do is facilitate the movement of cars on the roads. And this is why we
still keep getting those grand 16-lane highways in big cities.

*You recently attended an edition of Raahgiri Day in Gurgaon. Do you think
this event has played a positive part in changing the mindsets and creating
a demand for non-motorized infrastructure?*

Raahgiri Day has indeed proved that such events and experiments are
excellent in order to generate public opinion in favour of sustainable
development. It has acted as an important advocacy tool. In my opinion, we
should have a Raahgiri Day in every city, because this can be of direct
help to the civic agencies also. By showing that there is a demand for NMT
infrastructure, it simplifies the task of the authorities.

*So what should be the next step for Raahgiri campaign?*

People of this city have given their mandate. Now it is the duty of the
civic officials to live up to the expectations by delivering what is being
demanded - an upgrade of the NMT infrastructure here. I am also hopeful
that in this election year, sustainable development will become part of the
political agenda. In fact, all political parties should include this in
their manifestos. Flyovers cost hundreds of crores. A little attention to
sustainable living costs close to nothing.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Sustainable-living-should-be-part-of-political-agenda-Navdeep-Asija/articleshow/31188069.cms