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Red Fort gets National Tourism Award for the ‘Best Maintained & Disabled Friendly Monument

Dear Friends,

After more than two years of consistent efforts with Archaeological Survey of India, the joint efforts of Svayam and ASI’s Delhi Circle got a befitting acknowledgement in form of “National Tourism Award for Red Fort for being the Best maintained and Disabled Friendly monument”

Here are some visuals of the work that Svayam & ASI did at Red Fort:

Few more photos in the Slideshow:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Here is the Media Coverage in Hindustan Times : Click  to read from source
Red Fort: Well kept, disabled-friendly


HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times

New Delhi, March 29, 2011
The World Heritage Site of Red Fort has won the National Tourism Award for the ‘Best Maintained & Disabled Friendly Monument’. Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, union tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai and actor Priyanka Chopra presented the award in a ceremony held in the Capital on Monday. KK Muhammed, superintending archaeologist (Delhi circle) and Harbir Singh, ASI’s director (horticulture) received the award on behalf of the organisation.The Red Fort has ramps all across for easy accessibility by physically disabled people.
After carrying out the audit of the infrastructure around two years ago, Swayam – an NGO working in the field of disability, suggested interventions.
“We had suggested and ensured that the ramps are built at the right gradient,” said Abha Negi, director, Swayam.
Muhammed said, “We are going to further upgrade other facilities at the Red Fort, including new toilet blocks, which too would be disabled-friendly, and revised visitor circulation plan.”
The award should come as a big boost to the World Heritage Site, which had seen a sharp decline in the number of visitors due to various reasons.
One of the major reasons was lack of parking space near the monument.

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Stand up and be Counted- Census of India 2011

New Delhi, February 10, 2011:

The head count for the Census 2011 has begun today. It is important to be counted especially if you are a person with disability or you have a member with disability in your family be it child or an elderly parent.

Majority of people with disabilities in our country are confined within the four walls of their homes. This is not because they are not capable of participating or contributing in the society but because there are no facilities for them. Most public facilities – transportation, water and sanitation, health services, educational institutions, workplaces, markets, religious places and theatres – are inaccessible or difficult to get and use, for persons with disabilities. One of the reasons for this is that there is no authentic data on number of people with disabilities in the country. They are not counted.

In the previous Census conducted during 2001 only 2.13% of the population was reported disabled. According to various other estimates, World Bank Studies and the United Nations, 5-10% of the population has disability. One of the reasons for this underestimation was that there was hesitancy on the part of census enumerators to ask the question on disability or a presumption that there were no persons with disability in the household and a reluctance of part of certain families to disclose that there was disabled child/member in their family.

Rally being flagged off
Participants of the awareness rally were persons with disabilities themselves who will go to all parts of the city to spread awareness on the need to be counted.

“Census 2011 is at your door. Bring the missing millions to the forefront; don’t hide them behind closed walls. Yes, I am talking about children, adults and elderly with disabilities. Ensure you answer Question 9 when enumerators come to you! By hiding them you deny them that right of being a citizen and you deny the Government an opportunity to plan for their empowerment. This is the time to change! And you can change it by enumerating people with disabilities! STAND UP and BE COUNTED.  Let them reap the benefits this great democracy called India has to offer to them. I strongly urge each one of you to ensure that no one gets left out in this head count. Inclusive Census can only ensure Inclusive India!” said Ms. Sminu Jindal, Founder-Svayam, Chair-ARUNIM, MD-Jindal SAW Ltd.

Ms. Sminu Jindal along with other officials flagging off the awareness rally for Census 2011

We all must be aware that 5-Year Plans, Yearly Plans, Policies, resources and facilities are calculated and planned on the basis of Census data. It is therefore extremely crucial that realistic data emerges from the Census.

If you are a person with disability or have a member with disability in family, you should not miss out on answering a question on disability. If you do, there may be no improvement in facilities for persons with disabilities and their families for the next ten years, till the next Census takes place in 2021!

Census of India 2011 has with great efforts of disability sector included Question No. 9 on disability and the disabilities covered are,  disability of Seeing, Hearing, Speech, Movement, Mental Retardation (M.R.), Mental Illness, Multiple (More Than One) and Any Other. Ensure that you answer it for the simple reason – if you are counted- you are planned for and a budget is allocated for meeting your developmental needs. Even if there is no member with disability, they should ensure that the column is filled with a NO.

 

regards

Svayam Team


News Coverage in The Hindu:

NEW DELHI: “Stand up and be counted” is the clarion call for the disabled by various disability rights organisations to have themselves enumerated in the final round of the 2011 Census now under way across the country.

While the enumerators have, this time round, been intensely trained and sensitised on dealing with the issue of disability during the count, various non-government organisations have also chipped in by asking their members not to hide any details as they would help in planning for the future.

Svayam founder Sminu Jindal, herself a wheelchair user after an accident at the age of seven, said children, adults and the elderly with disabilities should ensure they answer question No. 9.

“By hiding them [the disabled] you deny them the right to be a citizen and deny the government an opportunity to plan for their empowerment. Let them reap the benefits this democracy has to offer. Ensure that no one gets left out in this head count. Only an inclusive Census can ensure an inclusive India,” she said.

Ms. Jindal lamented that a majority of the people with disabilities remain confined within the four walls of their home not because they are not capable of participating or contributing to the society, but due to lack of facilities.

Most public facilities — transportation, water and sanitation, health services, educational institutions, workplaces, markets, religious places and theatres — are inaccessible or difficult to get around for persons with disabilities.

Stating the reasons for this as lack of authentic data on the number of people with disabilities in the country and their not being counted, she said now that the Census is taking them into consideration it is time to stand up and be counted.

To read more please visit website of The Hindu at http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/11/stories/2011021166160700.htm

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“Svayam Accessibility Awards” announced

Media Release:

Svayam (an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust) and the host of the 13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People- TRANSED 2012, today announced institution of the first ever Accessibility awards.

To host these awards at TRANSED – 13th international conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and the Disabled persons to be held from September 17th -20th 2012 at New Delhi, India.

Svayam (an initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust) and the host of the 13th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People- TRANSED 2012, today announced institution of the first ever Accessibility awards. To be given on the sidelines of the conference, the awards will be conferred on agencies involved in development and maintenance of most accessible public places. These awards will play a pivotal role in encouraging the development of policies, practices and relationships to ensure that achievements on accessibility are sustainable and meaningful.

The Theme of TRANSED 2012 is – “Seamless access for all: Universal Design in Transport system and built infrastructure, a key element in the creation of livable cities.’’

“It is an effort to recognize committed businesses and organizations that go significantly beyond the legal requirements of providing excellent accessibility initiatives to accommodate people with disabilities. The three different categories of the award will be – Transport, Heritage Site /Place of Tourist Interest and Hospitality. The awards will acknowledge agencies taking social initiative and will motivate others in the community to step up and take positive action,” said Sminu Jindal.

Svayam was awarded the bid for the 13th TRANSED at Transport Research Bureau of USA against Germany and South Africa. TRANSED 2012 is designed to review advances in research, profile international breakthroughs and explore perspectives for technological innovations in response to the mobility challenges of an ageing population and persons with disabilities. It also aims to examine ways to address challenges associated with improving mobility and transportation needs for the elderly and disabled.

Svayam has been making tremendous efforts for making India accessible to all. It has been closely working with various groups/ agencies to provide an inclusive infrastructure for all. Svayam was also awarded the National Tourism Award of Excellence jointly with ASI for making the World Heritage Site of Qutab Minar in New Delhi as Most Accessible & Disabled Friendly Historical Monument.

About TRANSED 

Founded in the 1970’s by Professor Norman Ashford (University of Loughborough) and Professor William Bell (University of Florida), the International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People has been held twelve times in ten countries. From its roots as a small, specialized meeting among a handful of researchers, the conference today attracts between 200 and 600 delegates from up to 40 nations on six continents. Conference proceedings are a standard reference for researchers, planners and operators alike, and are referenced in the TRB Transport Research Information System TRIS.

Professionals and consumers throughout the world recognize the TRANSED series conferences as the key forum for scientific and philosophical advances in the pursuit of mobility and access for elderly and disabled people.

About Svayam and its founder Ms. Sminu Jindal

Svayam an Initiative of Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust has been working towards providing independence and dignity to people with reduced mobility. Svayam has been engaged in making various public places accessible to all especially the elderly and disabled.

As the result of an accident at the age of eleven, the founder of Svayam, Ms. Sminu Jindal became a wheelchair user but this did not deter her spirits and she is dedicated to the cause of improving the lives of people with reduced mobility. She devotes extensive time, resources and energy to realize Svayam′s mandate to work towards making public infrastructure accessible to all including reduced mobility people.
Discharging a dual role of being a successful businesswoman, as the Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd., and a person dedicated to creating social consciousness by way of Svayam, Sminu Jindal was undeterred by time or familial constraints. She has and continues to carry out all her roles, including being a mother of two children, beautifully. Every new role adds a new facet to her personality.

Svayam aspires to make India barrier free and provide universal access to all. It aims at not only generating awareness about the trials and tribulations of people with reduced mobility (that includes the elderly, expecting mothers, mothers with new born babies as well as toddlers and persons with disabilities) but also mould the opinions of public and policy makers in favour of public private participation in providing and executing accessibility solutions.

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Govt. of India invites proposals from States to ensure Disabled Friendly public buildings & websites

Dear Friends,

A recent press release from the Union Govt. invites from the States proposals to the tune of 100 crore to ensure that their all public buildings and websites are made barrier free. This is remarkable initiative from the Centre.

However, are there sufficient experts who can help state governments achieve this? Average website site developers know nothing about W3C standards and those who know little ask for exceptionally huge amount of money to do the work. There are very few genuine organisations who are dedicated and know their job well, but they are very busy!

Similarly, there is no system in the country to train the existing architects and engineers involved in maintaining and developing physical infrastructure so that the desired accessibility in the infrastructure could be ensured.

There have been efforts on the part of civil society and sensitization workshops have been conducted here and there but that doesn’t ensure that the implemented work will be accessible to the end user for the perceptions of accessibility have been found to be far removed from the actual accessibility!

Also, while it may be easy to plan new infrastructure as accessible, it is equally difficult to address the existing buildings  of universities, schools, hospitals, institutions, offices, public spaces etc in absence of trained access auditors. Retrofitting also poses specific challenges of space, location and financial viability!

Thirdly, the multiple standards on physical accessibility of public infrastructure adds to the confusion of the existing sensitized professionals. While the effort from the Ministry of Urban Development to harmonize the existing multiple standards viz. BIS standards on Functional Requirements in Buildings, Chief Commissioner Disabilities document on barrier free environment and the one with CPWD on barrier free environment will bring out some concrete document in near future, however as of date it is utter chaos.

The existing standards fail to satisfy the aspirations of persons with disabilities  and the mandate of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  Still the effort is on special design to address the need of disabled and not Universal Design that serves all. The Government of India should consider these issues on urgent basis since the call for proposals has been published.

regards

SC Vashishth

The Press Release:

Centre Invites Proposals from States for Giving Central Assistance to the tune of Rs. 100 Crore to Provide Barrier free Environment in Govt Buildings and to Make Government Websites Accessible to Persons With Disabilities

The Centre has invited proposals from States to give central assistance to provide barrier free environment in important State Government buildings in the State Secretariat, Collectorates, Main Hospitals, Universities and other important Government offices to ensure that these are accessible to the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Central assistance will also be given to make Government Websites at the State and District levels accessible to PwDs as per guidelines for Indian Government Websites issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.

Proposals from States have been invited by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the “Scheme for Implementation of PwD Act, 1995 (SIPDA)” after effecting a major increase in the annual allocation under this Scheme from Rs. 15-20 crore in the past to Rs. 100 crore this year.

The Ministry has made a notional allocation to the States based upon their population of PwDs as per Census, 2001 and has requested them to sent proposals on that basis. For example, a notional allocation of Rs. 16.50 crore has been made for Uttar Pradesh, 8.90 crore for West Bengal, 7.90 crore for Tamil Nadu, 7.60 crore for Maharashtra, 6.70 crore for Madhya Pradesh and 6.60 crore for Andhra Pradesh. Similar notional allocations have also been communicated to other States based on their population of PwDs.

It may be recalled that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), 2008, to which India is a signatory, calls for making buildings, work places, facilities including information, communication and other services etc accessible to PwDs on an equal basis. The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik, had written to the Chief Ministers of all States earlier this year urging them to make the important buildings and websites of the State Government accessible to People with disabilities in a time bound manner.

Central assistance on significant scale is provided to states under “Scheme for Implementation of PwD Act, 1995 (SIPDA) to encourage them to move in that direction.

source: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=66210

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UGC should grant more funds to allow Delhi University & its colleges to be barrier free

Disabled-friendly DU? Lack of funds blocking progress

Urvashi Sarkar 

UGC grant of Rs.5 lakh termed insufficient

NEW DELHI: Many Delhi University colleges are in a poor shape with regard to accessibility of persons with disabilities. While certain colleges have tried to remedy the situation, the larger problem is perceived to be insufficient fundsand communication gap between agencies.

DU’s Equal Opportunity Cell had prepared a detailed access audit report in 2007 of the accessibility situation in all colleges and departments and had written to each of them in early 2009 asking them to do the needful. According to the UGC XI Plan guidelines on grants to colleges, a one-time grant of Rs.5 lakh would be given to colleges to improve physical accessibility under one component of the Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs scheme.

Under the HEPSN, colleges can avail of the one-time grant to address accessibility related issues and ensure that all existing structures and future construction projects in their campuses are made disabled-friendly.

Colleges are supposed to write to UGC for the grant following which a UGC team inspects the college facilities and later the grant is sanctioned.

EOC member Dr. Chandra Nisha Singh said: “Some colleges may have received money under merged funds. Colleges may not be aware that they can draw from the merged funds to upgrade the college infrastructure for persons with disabilities.”

“Five lakh is not enough to bring about quality changes. It will cost about Rs.40-50 lakh for every college to make its infrastructure accessible for all. Even installing a lift costs about 10-15 lakh.” she added.

“Colleges such as Lady Sri Ram, Lakshmibai, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Khalsa College, Mata Sundri, Gargi, Kamala Nehru, Jesus and Mary College and some others have already started work.” According to Dr. Singh, though all the colleges had been periodically written to, many were either slow to respond or had not responded regarding the action taken on the basis of the access audit report.

Work in progress

The EOC has prepared a list of feedback from various DU colleges regarding the number of ramps, accessible toilets, tactile paths, blind-friendly software, elevator, signage and parking that are available in the respective colleges.

Some colleges which are not on the list when individually contacted claimed that work was in progress but maintained that funding from the UGC was insufficient.

Miranda House College Principal Dr. Pratibha Jolly said a digital resource centre and scholarships for visually challenged students, ramps and disabled friendly toilets had been provided. Lifts and hostel rooms for physically handicapped students were also being planned for the college. “These works are taking place through our own funds,” Dr. Jolly said, adding that though the UGC had sanctioned funds, they were insufficient.

Daulat Ram College Principal Dr. Kanan Nanda too said that ramps and toilets had been constructed with further plans for installation of lifts.

Acharya Narendra Dev College Principal Dr. Savitri Singh said: “We are among the 12 DU colleges which are not funded by the UGC but by the Delhi Government. The funds allotted to us for space development is limited as a result of which we have not been able to do much.”

“The PWD which has constructed certain structures for accessibility has not understood the requirements for design and specifications; consequently EOC guidelines have not been met with.”

Deshbandhu College (Evening) teacher Prof. Bipin Tiwari added: “We applied to the UGC almost a year ago and received the funds only last week. The lackadaisical approach of the university authorities and the UGC has caused many colleges to remain inaccessible.”

Ramjas College which submitted a detailed report on its accessibility situation almost eight months ago to the UGC, received a letter sanctioning funds only recently, Ramjas College Principal Dr. Rajendra Prasad said.

“Five lakh is peanuts and no quality changes can be brought about with such funds. It costs Rs.1.25 lakh just to construct one disabled friendly toilet. We did make our college disabled-friendly about four years ago. But how long can colleges use their own funds which are needed for other things too? It is the duty of the Government to provide funds,” he added.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/21/stories/2010042156600200.htm

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Wheeled Warrior – An article focusing Ms. Sminu Jindal, Founder-Svayam

Wheeled warrior (To read from source click here)

By: Swati Kumari, Date:  2010-03-15, Place: Delhi, Mid Day

The wheelchair doesn’t confine Sminu Jindal’s spirit from working towards finding work for the the differently-abled, like herself

And thus she spoke: Sminu Jindal has moved many with her determination

35-year-old Sminu Jindal thinks no movement must be restricted to that. She is busy juggling office work and household chores on a wheelchair, but there’s always room for more. Paralysed waist downwards, Sminu does not believe on sitting on her laurels. She is the founder of Svayam — an initiative that has been working towards providing independence and dignity to people with reduced mobility. Svayam has been engaged in making various public places accessible to all, especially the elderly and the disabled.

She is also the chairperson of ‘Arunim’ (Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative in Marketing) and Managing Director of Jindal SAW, apart being a mother of two. We could finds out how this Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2009, who was recognised by the World Economic Forum as an under-40 leader, manages it all.

How did you muster the courage to start your own cause?

I was confined, but I never allowed my spirit to be chained. On the contrary, it  added wheels to my determination. I wanted to take life head on, not only for myself, but for the millions of others who needed support. That’s the reason why Svayam was conceptualised. The results are already showing. I feel that the government is now far more sensitive about introducing disabled-friendly outfits in sectors that affect the day-to-day lives of people.

How did you decide to be a part of Arunim, and what is its role?

National Trust discussed the launch of a first-of-its-kind Marketing Board for the disabled ‘ARUNIM’ (Association for Rehabilitation under National Trust Initiative in Marketing) with us, and invited me to be the chairperson. I was highly obliged. Arunim was launched to act as a step towards economic empowerment of persons with severe to profound disabilities, who have limited opportunities for open placement. We them in securing livelihood and capacity building through production of goods that are market-driven, making them competitive and market compatible.

And your third role, that of an MD.

Things started changing once I joined a part-time MBA programme at the Fore School of Management. I chose to do a part-time programme, because by this time I was in-charge of a unit that was not doing too well. So, I really had to give it my best there and in the evening I would go and study.  While I was ascending the ladder in business, I also had to face skepticism. In a Marwari society, you really do not find women at work. People think that women just can’t do it when it comes to industrial work.

What does your typical day look like? One hour of yoga and cardio exercises, lots of work in office, digging information on ‘crystal therapy’ and giving constant feedback to different organisations who approach me, besides being involved in Svayam’s and Arunim’s activities as well.

Did you find enough support?

My parents have been really supportive since my childhood. I am so glad that they were tough when they needed to be tough. Of course, they were kind and loving, too. I really appreciate their faith in me. My family is full of selfless people, who have helped me to understand myself.

I have not had a problem in accepting my condition, and neither has my husband. I am a mother of two, (Arjan and Anav) aged six and three, and divide time between work and children along with Svayam. I expect my kids to become more sensitive and actually take forward my work at Svayam.

How can the common man make a difference in such a cause?

I believe that growth is possible when you include everybody. Hence, everyone whether able-bodied or mobility challenged, should be treated with dignity and given equal opportunities.

It’s a matter of developing the right attitude, and believe me, it ain’t rocket science!

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Project Arrow should include mandatory component of Access during renovation of Post Offices

727 more post offices to be upgraded

Dear Friends,

Department of Post is undertaking this exercise of renovating major post office as part of its Project Arrow and we were extremely happy that this renovation will provide opportunity to the the Deportment of Post, Govt. of India to make their Post offices being upgraded under this project accessible to diversity of users including those with reduced mobility and those with disabilities.

However, our recent experience indicates otherwise. A survey of the Post Office at Parliament Street in the heart of Delhi recently upgraded under project Arrow brings out that perhaps the component of access has not been given the priority that it deserved in light of legal mandate of Accessibility in Public Infrastructure. We are taking up this issue with the Department, so that it is addressed now before it is too late.

However, it would be a good economic sense to adhere to the Guidelines on Accessible and Barrier Free Infrastructure at the time of undertaking renovation projects of this magnitude  so that the need of retrofitting at a future date is nipped in the bud and financial resources are used judiciously.

regards

Svayam Team

Click here to read from source

India Post is giving a corporate look to 727 more post offices as part of its “Project Arrow  

New Delhi: After upgrading 1,000 post offices across the country, India Post is giving a corporate look to 727 more with better services under one roof as part of its “Project Arrow”, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sachin Pilot says.

“The look and feel of these post offices will be different and these offices will be fully computerised with additional features like electronic funds transfer, instant money order and computerised banking services,” Pilot said.

“We picked some 1,000 post offices in 500 districts over the past year and spent Rs 160-odd crore. The look and feel, the aesthetics, the uniform have all changed. They are like a one-stop shop for people looking at a host of services,” he said.

“Once the atmosphere is more welcoming, footfalls will increase. And once the footfalls increase, more revenue will come in. And once more revenue comes in, it motivates our employees,” he added, reports IANS.

“We have started getting results as well. In the last quarter of 2009, these 1,000 post offices saw a 23-per cent jump in revenue,” the Minister said.

The government has around 150,000 post offices across the country and more than 450,000 people working out of them. The idea is to make these offices find ways to counter the loss of revenues on account of telecom, Internet and courier businesses.

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Ahmedabad BRT wins Sustainable Transport Award at Washington

Taking learnings from Delhi BRT, Gujarat has successuly implemented its BRT which has got accolades from Transport Research Bureau, Washington and recently awarded Sustainable Transport Award.

Here is the coverage:

This report is also available at: http://uttipec.nic.in/writereaddata/mainlinkFile/File206.doc

In 3 months, Ahmedabad BRT a winner

Source: The Times of India dated 21.01.2010
              
Ironed Out Delhi Flaws To Notch Up Ridership Of 35,000, Wins International Acclaim
Megha Suri Singh | TNN

New Delhi: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) are dreaded words in the capital but the urban transportation concept has become immensely popular in Ahmedabad since the pilot corridor is nothing like its Delhi counterpart. In fact, they have learnt from Delhi’s mistakes to make it a successful venture. 
    The three-month-old corridor introduced all that Delhi lacked — it was started with Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled buses, a passenger information system (PIS) and closed bus shelters with smart-card based ticketing at the bus-stops and not inside buses. The first corridor was planned in ‘‘lowdensity areas’’ and operated free for people for the first two months.

Ahmedabad BRT

    When Delhi’s tryst with BRT began almost two years ago, with trial runs on the pilot 5.8-km stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand, the irritants were congestion in the car lane which was squeezed to just two lanes, signal cycles going for a toss with long waiting time at intersections, bus shelters located at crossings adding to the chaos and a long waiting time for buses. In Ahmedabad, the BRT corridor stretches over 16.5 km in an area which, unlike congested south Delhi, is still being developed by the government.
    “There are large tracts of open space along the corridor and offices are being developed along them. This is a transit-oriented model of development where transportation has come first and development later,’’ said an official. The average traffic counts at intersections are just 3000-4000 PCUs hourly as against Delhi BRT where some intersections have counts as high as 20,000-30,000 PCUs per hour. It is a closed BRT system. So, the buses don’t go out and other buses are not allowed in. The buses are fitted with devices which signals can read and give them free passage. The Intelligent Traffic Signals (ITS) system planned for the Delhi corridor is yet to come up.
    The bus-stops are located 200 metres before the intersections and have platform screen doors operated by sensors to prevent people from getting hit by buses passing by. The doors open when a bus arrives and all buses, standard floor ones, stop in perfect alignment with the bus shelters. Delhi spent much more on buying low-floor buses to provide stepless entry to people, but even two years later, drivers seldom stop the bus in alignment with the platform.
    ‘‘We started with a ridership of 17,000 people daily in October last year. This has grown to 35,000 in three months,’’ said Prof Shivanand Swamy of CEPT University, Ahmedabad, which conceptualised the BRT model.
    It recently got the Sustainable Transport Award by Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in Washington.

SERVING ITS PURPOSE The BRT corridor stretches over 16.5 km in Ahmedabad and has Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled buses, a passenger information system (PIS) and closed bus shelters with smart-card based ticketing at bus-stops and not inside buses. It’s also located in an area that is not densely populated.