The Faculty of Architecture (FOA), Manipal University, will chip in with their knowledge to help Shivamogga, one of the 100 cities selected by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, to participate in the Smart City, Challenge Stage-2, to gain the status.
A release issued by the university here on Wednesday said that the students of Masters in Urban Design and Development, FOA, had recently presented a road map for Shivamogga’s Sustainable Transition to the City Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M.P., who is also the Managing Director of Shivamogga Smart City Ltd.
The students began the study to chalk out a sustainability plan in July 2017 after a preliminary meeting with the city administration and stakeholders.
The idea was to make Shivamogga smart and sustainable.
The process involved extensive site analysis and stakeholder consultations and also focused on strengthening relationship between people, culture, physical, and built attributes of the city.
The proposals included integration and networking of ecological layers to improving their accessibility and preservation. Special emphasis was on improving interface of the city with the Tunga river. The study also suggested various ways and means to strengthen public transport, rejuvenation of waterbodies, integrated waste management, and enhancing cultural vibrancy in the city.
During the discussions, Mr. Muhilan suggested that FOA immediately present short term projects which can fit into the strategies under the Smart City Programme to be implemented. The FOA team, guided by its faculty and director, Nishant Manpure, agreed to present the final project by the end of October.
FOA will work with the city administration to become a knowledge partner in thematic areas of urban planning, design, and policy studies.