Tactical Urbanism redesign reduces pedestrian exposure

Nagpur: Redesigning of Kalpana Talkies Square (near Mankapur indoor stadium) has led to 16% reduction in pedestrian exposure distance, and a 48% increase in the public space available for pedestrians, says NGO SaveLIFE. Redesigning of the square has been done using a globally accepted method called Tactical Urbanism (TU).
The TU interventions introduced at the Kalpana Talkies Square include provision of continuous crosswalks and public space with geometric corrections, as well as provision for pedestrian waiting spaces. Other interventions include provision of dedicated spaces for two-wheeler parking, an autorickshaw stand, designated dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones, and organised vending zones with seating spaces.
Piyush Tewari, CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation, said, “We explored the use of global best practices to save lives at Kalpana Talkies Square. We have customised the global TC concept to suit Indian road and traffic conditions to yield road safety results.”
SaveLIFE said that an average of 6,800 pedestrians and 1.2 lakh vehicles use the intersection daily.
“This location experiences significant pedestrian footfall and vehicular movement. It’s in close proximity to Mankapur stadium and four major hospitals, contributing heavily to the footfall and vehicular thoroughfare witnessed there,” a statement from SaveLIFE mentions.
The square is also a prominent hangout for youth, and has many street vendors and eateries catering to them. In their research, the foundation found that users of this square primarily commute using two-wheelers, autorickshaws, shared taxis, and buses.
Also known as the Mankapur Indoor Stadium Chowk, the spot acts as a gateway to Nagpur from the north. It is a four-arm intersection at Koradi Road on National Highway 47. The spot connects to Chhindwara towards the north and Wardha towards the south. Two minor roads, the Jai Hind Nagar Road on the west and New Mankapur Road on the east, connect the Square to State Highway 260 and the railway line, respectively.