Articles by Varun Sukumar

The aim of any transport hub, like a metro station, should be to make the wait time for a passenger entertaining and hassle-free. This means effectively using the available space in multiple ways, some of which can also help boost non-fare revenue.

Infrastructure may be the most tangible manifestation of growth in an urban centre, but smart development has to integrate various components — sustainability, quality of services, employment, land use etc — to make a true impact on the life of the citizen.

Technology adoption is at the heart of success of any smart city, Chennai included. But can physical and digital infrastructure help make a city more liveable? Here’s where citizen engagement plays a key role.

A city tackling climate change needs to think big and small and involve all stakeholders in the process — policymakers, state and local governments, private entities and citizens. That should be one of the primary goals of the Chennai Smart City programme.

Technology in many ways forms the base for a smart city. With the 2015 floods exposing the city’s inability to deal with heavy rains and flooding, the smart city mission should address the gaps and build resilience through use of digital infrastructure.

Ease of mobility and efficient transportation must be key features in any smart city. As the city sets its own goals under the Chennai Smart City programme, the author identifies the crucial areas that need attention for realisation of those.

The Chennai Corporation has initiated a zero-waste plan for the city, but for any initiative to work from the ground up, the government isn’t necessarily the best placed to complete the entire cycle by itself. Can our city go circular to successfully crack the waste puzzle?

Chennai is expected to grow at 8.1% between now and 2035. Mobility will play a vital role in how the city shapes up and public transit will be central to that. But Chennai Metro needs to do a lot more to rise to the occasion.