ITDP India

Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide

Khader Nawaz Khan Road Discovery Trails

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Want to discover the newest features of Chennai’s Pedestrian-First High Street? Choose between a self-guided audio tour and a virtual tour, led by our tour guide Varsha!

To experience KNK street from the comfort of your home:

Head to Our Virtual Tour on Youtube

 

To begin the self-guided audio tour, head to the first stop on Khader Nawaz Khan Road. Once you’ve arrived, scroll down and press play on the first audio.

If you have lost your way,
or don’t have a clue,
the route map above will be there to guide you!

Happy listening!

Stop 1 / Welcome to Khader Nawaz Khan Pedestrian First High Street
Find Stop 1 on the map.


Stop 2 / KNK: A Complete Street
Find Stop 2 on the map.


Stop 3 / Essential services are now efficient services.
Find Stop 3 on the map.


Stop 4 / A place to gather
Find Stop 4 on the map.


Stop 5 / Hidden details
Find Stop 5 on the map.


Stop 6 / End and Walk Back
Find Stop 6 on the map.

Created by Tejesvini Ravi, Associate, and Donita Jose, Senior Associate, ITDP India.
Voiceover by Varsha Jeyapandi, Senior Associate, ITDP India.
Technical inputs by Shivani Balasubramanian, Associate, ITDP India.
Conceptualised by Donita Jose, Tejesvini Ravi and Varsha Jeyapandi.
Video footage shot by Ally Production.

In collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation.

Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Perception Study on Air Pollution and Low Emission Zone Strategies

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At Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, air pollution caused by road transport is a serious public health concern. To combat this, we need Low Emission Zones (LEZ), a strategy in which polluting vehicles are discouraged through vehicle restrictions and pricing measures. But how would the people of these cities respond to this strategy?

To understand how citizens would adapt to LEZ measures, we conducted a one-of-a-kind perception study across 20 neighbourhoods in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The views of 2,000 owners of personal vehicles (two-wheelers and four-wheelers) were recorded, capturing the following insights:

  1. Citizens’ change in travel behaviour in case of a ban on high polluting vehicle 
  2. Citizens change in travel behaviour if the high polluting vehicles could be still allowed by paying a daily pollution cess, instead of banning.

To know more, read the full document here

Safe Routes to School: Visual Guides

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Interesting in advocating for safer school zones in your neighbourhood? We have resources tailored for everyone—from students to professional planners—to help you get started.

A visual guide for all ages

Looking for a simple way  to highlight the safe elements of school streets? Our Child-Friendly Poster makes the concepts clear and colourful.

Quick reference for professionals.
Need a concise, attractive overview of what makes a school zone truly safe? Download our Nifty Printable Poster for your reference.

Cycling In Our Cities

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Cycling in Our Cities is a multi-city study by ITDP India that examines how citizens perceive and experience cycling infrastructure in Indian cities. Conducted across Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Nagpur, the study aims to inform future cycling infrastructure planning by understanding what works—and what doesn’t—for everyday cyclists.

What Was Surveyed
The study surveyed 605 cyclists and non-cyclists and assessed over 152 km of cycling infrastructure across the three cities. It evaluated four common infrastructure types: footpath-level cycle tracks, at-grade segregated cycle tracks, painted cycle lanes on carriageways, and shared streets with traffic calming measures.

Key Takeaways
Obstructions emerged as the biggest deterrent to cycling, cited by 56% of cyclists, with parked vehicles, vendor encroachments, and motor vehicle movement being the most common issues. Shared streets with traffic calming were consistently rated as the safest and most comfortable environments, while segregated cycle tracks performed poorly due to encroachments, poor surfaces, and broken continuity. The findings highlight that effective cycling infrastructure requires not just good design, but also strong enforcement and maintenance.

Find the full publication here.

Reimagining Chennai’s Mobility For The Next 25 Years

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A visual comic that breaks down Chennai’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan, tracing how the city’s transport vision will shape movement, streets, and everyday journeys over the next 25 years.

This resource is available to read in both English and Tamil—click to explore.

Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area

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This study report serves as the executive summary of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the Chennai Metropolitan Area. The CMP is a long-term strategic vision that integrates land use and urban transport planning to guide mobility in the CMA over the next 25 years.

Read the full publication here.

Situational Analysis of Chennai Streets

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This study report assesses the current situation of pedestrian infrastructure in Chennai. Taking the case of 14 streets in different parts of the city, the report seeks to create awareness and a dialogue surrounding successes and gaps in the infrastructure, prompting the identification of future areas of intervention.

Read the full publication here.

Status Report on Public Charging of Electric Vehicles in Tamil Nadu

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The report, jointly prepared by Guidance Tamil Nadu and ITDP India, provides a comprehensive assessment of the current status of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. It examines existing policy frameworks, market dynamics, and stakeholder perspectives to identify key challenges hindering growth. The analysis underscores the urgent need to scale up charging infrastructure to match the state’s EV adoption goals. Drawing on best practices from other states, the report outlines actionable recommendations to strengthen planning, investment, and implementation mechanisms.

Click here to download the full report.

 

 

 

Tamil Nadu Public Charging Infrastructure Guidelines

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The Tamil Nadu Public Charging Infrastructure Guidelines marks India’s first comprehensive state-specific framework to guide the setting up of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The document has been jointly developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu’s Industries Department, Guidance Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Ltd (TNGECL), Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL), with technical support from ITDP India.

The guidelines provide a structured reference for future EV infrastructure planning and implementation across both urban and regional areas. One can find the following topics covered in the guidelines-

  1. Spatial site identification
  2. Regulatory norms and standard
  3. EV charging infrastructure demand assessment
  4. Public-private collaboration opportunities
  5. The technical and safety standards.

This resource is intended to support policymakers, urban planners, and operators by offering clear guidance on the planning, deployment, and management of EV public charging infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.

Click to download the full report: Tamil Nadu Public Charging Infrastructure Guidelines

The 30-page pocket version of the Guidelines can be accessed in English here.

For the Tamil Pocket Guidelines, click here.

Chennai’s Perception of Premium Bus Service

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State Transport Undertakings (STUs) across India face declining ridership due to overcrowding, limited amenities, and competition from private vehicles and ride-hailing services. To address this, ITDP India conducted a survey on Premium Bus Services in Chennai, aiming to understand commuter preferences for comfort, reliability, and convenience.
The survey focused on private vehicle users—car and two-wheeler owners—to identify factors that could encourage a shift back to public transport.
The findings were compiled in the report Chennai’s Perspective of Premium Bus Service.

Download the full analysis here: Chennai’s Perception of Premium Bus Service