The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has selected Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, and Tiruppur to participate in the 75-hour urban transformation event, which will take place from September 26 to October 3 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations.
The event would emphasize not only the importance of streets for inclusive mobility, but also the role of public spaces in recreation, mental health, and livability improvement. AKAM is a Centre initiative to commemorate and celebrate 75 years of independence.
According to Sampath Kumar Subramaniam, the state coordinator for the Smart Cities Mission, this would be a time-bound and cost-effective intervention that would be tested with key stakeholders and citizens. Sampath told the media that although the event has been limited to five cities in Tamil Nadu, other cities are welcome to participate.
The event will be inspired by locations such as the Pedestrian Plaza in Pondy Bazaar, according to the official, who also stated that it will adhere to the Covid-19 protocols. According to the media, the government has already written a letter to the state requesting permission to hold the event.
Meanwhile, two more events are in the works. There will be an event at the Integrated Command and Control Centre, which is operational in the 11 smart cities, as well as Freedom to Walk and Cycle. The Freedom to Walk and Cycle is being developed using the test, learn, and scale philosophy.
The ICCC event would be divided into nine themes. Waste, Traffic, Crime, Water Scarcity, Queues, GHCs, Pollution, Disease, and Inefficiency are among them. The themes will highlight the ICCC's effectiveness in achieving the objectives.
