213/2022-2023
19th October 2022, Aizawl: A one-day workshop was organised at the Mizoram Rural Bank Auditorium, MINECO on Review of Existing Scenario & Finalising Mobility Indicators under the Aizawl Sustainable Urban Transport Project on 19 October 2022. The project is being implemented by the Project Management Unit under the Department of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, Government of Mizoram through assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

Under the project, the PMU is in the process of preparing a Comprehensive Mobility Plan for the city of Aizawl and its surrounding areas. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan proposes to set forth a vision for mobility in Aizawl for a period of twenty years, based on the projected growth of the city in the intervening period.

The workshop was inaugurated by Pu Zoramthanga, Hon' ble Chief · Minister of Mizoram. The event was also graced by Pu Tawnluia, Hon'ble Deputy Chief Minister & Hon' ble Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation of Mizoram, Members of the State Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Hon' ble Mayor of Aizawl, along with representatives from several Departments such as Transport, Public Works, Traffic Police, Aizawl Municipal Corporation amongst others. Representatives of non-Governmental organizations, Mizoram University, various companies engaged in development and operations of systems such as ropeways, elevators and escalators also attended the event.

M/s Mott Macdonald Private Limited has been appointed as the Project Planning, Development and Management Consultants to the project, and much of the preparatory work concerning the comprehensive Mobility Plan has been performed by them. During the workshop, the Consultants presented findings of the surveys that have been conducted for the purpose of preparing the plan, apart from a series of indicators that determine the general condition and state of mobility in the city. Examples from other parts of India as well as other parts of the world were also presented to illustrate what kind of solutions could be envisaged for Aizawl - notably funiculars'. ropeways or cable cars as well as improving the experience of walking as well as facilities for pedestrians for vertical mobility, such as public stairs escalators and elevators.

The event also focused on building a consensus or a shared vision for urban mobility in the city of Aizawl; which will be deliberated over the course of the next several weeks between the stakeholders. Another workshop on developing sustainable urban transport scenarios will be held during November, followed by proposals that can be taken up pursuant to achieving the desired scenarios.