Namma Raste 2025 Sees 5,000 Participants Convene to Reimagine Bengaluru’s Mobility Future
Bengaluru, 22 February: Namma Raste 2025, a three-day convening and exhibition, inaugurated by Shri DK Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) of Karnataka, concluded in the city today. The event, organized by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with WRI India as knowledge partner, saw 5,000 people participate – bringing together government and civil society organizations, educational institutions and a diverse range of citizens and stakeholders to discuss sustainable urban transport solutions.
In all, more than 70 speakers, 68 government and partner organizations, 16+ schools and colleges and several corporates participated, engaging in insightful sessions and interactive activities aimed at raising awareness on the city’s mobility challenges and solutions. Representatives from BMTC, BMRCL, KRide, DULT, and BTP were also present, highlighting the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies in addressing Bengaluru's mobility challenges.
Key highlights of the 3-day event included the launch of the Namma Raste Kaipidi (Handbook), immersive data visualizations, curated expert discussions and capacity-building workshops – all focused on addressing the city’s mobility challenges through connected public transport, better road infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly urban design.
The Namma Raste Kaipidi is a first-of-its kind handbook prepared under the chairmanship of BBMP’s Chief Engineer, Dr. B.S. Prahallad and curated by IISc and WRI India. The handbook illustrates best practices for effective road design, construction, and maintenance, aimed at improving Bengaluru’s 12,878 km road network. Commenting on the guidebook, Shri DK Shivakumar mentioned the Kapidi is akin to the constitution of India, with the latter serving as the guidebook for the nation and the former serving as a blueprint for our roads. Concurring with DCM, Shri Tushar Giri Nath, Chief Commissioner, BBMP, pointed out that the vision of Kaipidi extends beyond building roads to create cities that are accessible and inclusive. The event also saw sessions where BBMP engineers were trained in the usage of the Kaipidi.
On day 2 of the event, Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, spoke on the traffic issues faced by Bengaluru and underscored the importance of collaboration to address the city's mobility challenges. She emphasized the criticality of effective design and planning and urged BBMP to consider citizens’ inputs.
A key highlight of the convening was its emphasis on gender-responsive mobility systems to address mobility challenges. Sessions explored how inclusive planning, and implementation can address mobility barriers for women and marginalized communities with local civic organizations such as HSR Citizens, B.PAC, Compartment S4, ITDP participating and showcasing successful models of citizen engagement with the government.
The event also featured several interactive and educational initiatives. School students actively participated, contributing to discussions and learning about sustainable mobility solutions firsthand.
The final day of Namma Raste included a quiz on Bengaluru bus trivia, organized by Friends of BMTC. This was followed by an engaging discussion on Bengaluru’s footpaths, emphasizing the need for stronger stakeholder collaboration to enhance walkability and ensure safer pedestrian infrastructure in the city. Representatives from the corporate sector also presented various examples of how they are leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to implement successful pilot projects aimed at enhancing urban mobility.
Namma Raste also emphasised the role of open data in solving issues that impact the urban mobility ecosystem. Experts discussed how open data and technology can bridge the prevalent information asymmetries in the public transport system, and enhance overall system efficiency, traffic management and multi-modal integration. With insights from policymakers, urban planners, and community leaders, Namma Raste 2025 has set the stage for meaningful action toward a more accessible, efficient, and people-friendly Bengaluru.
