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○ What planning guidelines and analysis was used to determine that it is

necessary to rip up the fully functional existing paver block road and raise it by

6” (15 cms) and also to widen it? Was there traffic congestion reported there

that requires the road to be widened? Were any tests done on the blocks to

show their aging or need for replacement? Note that 2 JCBs can pass each

other on this road. And there is no water logging reported there that requires

the road level to be raised.

○ Talking about raising this road’s level by 6” (15 cms) we would like to know

what are the new proposed levels of the radial road. The level difference at

Crown road junction is about 6 meters higher than where this radial meets the

outer ring road. How will this level difference be negotiated? What are

intermediate levels on this road and how do they relate to the plinth levels of

the buildings and communities on the sides of this road? This is important for

the surface water runoff and its management in this area. Will this water

eventually drain out into Sukhavati-Samriddhi canyon or will be pumped back

to the centre for the Martrimandir Lake, as was stated by Jaya on site?

Other road related points and questions:

● Since we are on the topic of roads could we also get a clarification on why the Crown

Road, which is largely for pedestrian and light traffic use, is built with heavy

concrete whereas the Outer Ring Road is being built using paver blocks? It has

been stated as well as frequently announced, that closer to the centre the city would

be pedestrian in nature with light electric vehicles whereas the motorized vehicles

would be restricted to the periphery which is the outer ring road. And therefore

logically it should have been the other way round - Crown Road built with paver

blocks and Outer Ring Road in concrete, and the larger question is whether

concrete should be used at all since it is not a sustainable material.

● And finally, while building/rebuilding these roads, including the Crown Road, why has

building the cycle paths and pedestrian sidewalks not been prioritized?

Currently people are forced to walk on the concrete road, while protecting themselves

from high speed motorized traffic and radiating heat from the concrete surface which

has increased now because the shade trees that had been planted along these roads

more than 20 years ago were cut down for highly questionable reasons. There are no

markings on the road where pedestrians could cross the road at junctions and there

are no other safety features put in place.

● If we are really aspiring to build a pedestrian friendly inner city, it must be a priority to

put appropriate infrastructure in place and mechanisms to reduce the motorized

traffic speed and radiating heat from the concrete surfaces that are responsible

for urban heat island (ULI) effects in an increasing number of cities around the

world. And this is getting worse with higher temperatures every year, due to climate

change.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

for Concerned Residents