BRT Blossoms in India

This piece from Places takes a look at a new bus rapid transit system that is growing in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

1 minute read

April 23, 2010, 6:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"A new addition to the BRT network was recently launched in India. Last year the northwestern city of Ahmedabad opened the first phase of the Janmarg - the People's Way. Though still in its infancy, the system has already attracted favorable attention: early this year the U.S.-based Institute for Transportation & Development Policy awarded Janmarg its Sustainable Transport Award.

Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat, is India's seventh largest and fifth richest city; it's become a thriving commercial center - via industries including textiles, pharmaceuticals and construction - and its educational institutions attract a large student population. Currently almost five million residents are spread across 80 square miles; local officials estimate that 10 million will inhabit 450 square miles by 2031. Yet while parts of the city flourish, others continue to struggle with poverty. And like most Indian cities, Ahmedabad is grappling with the challenge of adapting existing infrastructure to increasing traffic."

The system was developed with dedicated lanes and helped to create other pedestrian and bike lanes within the city. Meena Kadri offers a tour of the new system and how it is integrating itself into the community.

Monday, April 19, 2010 in Places

Aerial view of homes on green hillsides in Daly City, California.

Depopulation Patterns Get Weird

A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

April 10, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

A view straight down LaSalle Street, lined by high-rise buildings with an El line running horizontally over the street.

Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing

Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.

April 10, 2024 - Chicago Construction News

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

12 minutes ago - Central Penn Business Journal

Children sit on temporary street furniture next to book cart at pop-up reading event at open streets event in Sunset Park in New York City.

Meet NYC’s New Office of Livable Streets

The NYC DOT program will build on pandemic-era initiatives to promote safe and comfortable streets that enhance community and expand uses beyond just moving cars.

1 hour ago - Next City

New York Public Transit

Transit Riders Face the Highest Safety Risks in These 10 States

According to federal data, the average number of safety incidents on public transportation averaged 55.2 per 100,000 people across all states between 2010 and 2023. Which states came in well above the national average?

2 hours ago - PropertyCasualty360

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.