Better streets process

Better streets

A guide to implementing safer streets and more livable spaces in India

“Advanced cities are not those with highways and subways, but with dedicated spaces for walking and cycling” – Enrique Penalosa

Streets are one of the most valuable assets of our cities. They are not only a way to get from point A to B—but also public spaces where people meet and interact. Yet, presently, streets are designed primarily to move vehicles. This approach has drastically reduced the quality of life and character of the public spaces in our cities. To reverse this trend, streets should be designed to reflect the needs of all users. This webpage is for public officials, architects, contractors, and others who are interested in improving our city streets.

What are Better Streets?

The process of envisioning, designing and implementing better streets involves collaboration of various stakeholders, including the corporation officials, engineers, traffic police, service agencies such as the electricity board and water agency, architects and urban designers, contractors, and local residents and shopkeepers.

Better Streets presentation

The Process

Street design is crucial for the success of the project. Streets need to be designed properly before construction begins. Designs must respond to local movement and activity patterns in order to succeed. Corporations should seek to empanel architects and urban designers to prepare detailed street designs.

Street Design Process presentation

Step 1: Conceptualise the project

Create Project Coordination Committee

To aid quick decision making, resolve challenges, and monitor the project from its inception, the first key step is to set up a project coordination committee of major stakeholders. The committee must meet regularly to take stock of project status.

Setting up a project coordination committee

Select the study area

The implementing agency can reduce unnecessary delays by selecting appropriate streets for improvements.

Site Analysis

Carry out topographic surveys

Topographic surveys determine the location of all natural and man-made features on the site. This process helps maximise the strengths of the site as well as identify the best ways to accommodate the site’s challenges.

Topo survey TOR
Topo survey presentation

Step 2: Prepare street designs

Empanel architects

Street design TOR
Architect’s deliverables presentation

Prepare conceptual design

While developing concepts for streets, architects and urban designers need to carefully plan for the various street design components that serve specific functions. Getting the elements in the right proportion and location is challenging because all elements interact with one another.

Prepare detailed design

Careful detailing of design elements ensure that the streets are adequately utilised. Most often infrastructure for walking and cycling in Indian cities are implemented with good intent, yet design shortcomings often mean that these facilities remain unused. Errors such as abrupt kerbs and unnecessary heights make even wide footpaths difficult to use.

Street design construction details presentation

Step 3: Implement the designs

Prepare Bill of Quantities (BOQ):

BOQ prepared by city corporation is issued to contractors to estimate the project construction cost. It is important to identify all the different kinds of works to be carried out as well as materials to be used, to avoid later disputes with the contractor and project delays.

Sample BOQ document.

Hire contractor

Hiring the right contractor is key to ensuring that the project is implemented to the highest quality and within the stipulated period of time. The process involves writing a clear and detailed terms of reference (TOR) for the contractor, tendering the work to the empaneled contractors, and finally signing the work order by the city corporation. The corporation should ensure timely payments to the contractor as work gets underway.

Empanelling contractor TOR

Monitor construction progress

During the construction phase, many challenges may arise at the site. Since many stakeholders are involved, there will be occasions when responsibility and complaints are passed around. Constant monitoring is required to avoid mistakes and resolve issues.

Construction stages presentation
Construction monitoring presentation

Step 4: Outreach

Build citizen support:

Streets are public spaces whose designs affect the citizens residing along the project. To understand the public concerns upfront, obtain inputs on the conceptual designs evolved, build consensus towards final designs and avoid obstacles during construction, it is important to engage in a public participation process.

Citizen engagement presentation

Media outreach

Media plays a large role in shaping public opinion about the project—whether support or opposition. Proactively engaging the media from the early phases of the project, sharing appropriate resources with them, and informing them about any challenges that arise can help build goodwill for the project.

Media engagement