CHENN-IT: Final Report for 2019 DRIA Intl. Design Competition

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feeder, commuter, and intercity modes of transportation. which offer a global lab and forum to ignite ideas, exchanging knowledge and experience with other global hubs.

Conclusion In 2019, “Chenn-IT� emerged as a carefully crafted experimental model, constantly redefined and reconditioned in a multi-disciplinary environment of citizens, urban actors, agents, multilayered forms of governments that India had to offer at that time in history. India presented a case of an integrated network of urban governance and management that was embarking on a new digitally-empowered platform called Smart-City Mission, 2015. As a result, the welcoming approach of the government proved to be highly beneficial in order to venture into multi-sectoral interventions powered by the uniquely smart e-mobility drive at its core. While the initial inhibitions for any kind of city-level change was perfectly understandable, the mid-term success displayed by the project around 2028 acted as a real game changer. Chennai citizen-groups were initially uncertain of the precious marshland being used for IT and emobility testing purposes, and they actively displayed their lack of trust through protests in order to stop the development. However, soon enough they were reassured by the project delivery which strictly followed the stringent development regulations aimed to avoid any mis-use of land outside the formal framework. The annual e - formula race event in Chennai is now one of the most popular festivities in the city, attracting thousands of tourists every year. This shows impressively how important the project is among the local population. The same citizen community who were now an active stakeholder in the project, joined hands with the local government project-team to share responsibilities in the community integration project. What the project witnessed along the way, was a real remarkable social impact. When the private IT sector began showing signs of losing interest in this community integration project, the same team of citizen-groups and local government, stepped in and intervened to support the community. The Pallikaranai Marshland continued to thrive as a clean, breathing open space dotted by conscious development of IT, Treasure Island and e-mobility and championed a replicable role-model for a rapidly urbanizing city’s sustainability struggle. The surrounding communities benefit from "The Hub", in which they have adapted completely to the needs of the population working there. These include innumerable small, almost famous street

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