When I was studying urban planning, I never imagined that in the next three decades Bhubaneswar will be trapped under some of the Urban Planning approaches of solving urban issues using Third world approaches like wider roads, flyovers, waterlogging, heatwave etc.
This summer has been full of climate disasters and plummeting air quality. Bhubaneswar, one of the sufferers, achieved one the highest levels of air pollution recorded in its history. Although the impacts are becoming more striking, this is not a new phenomenon. South Asia alone is home to 9 of the world’s 10 cities with the worst air pollution, which causes an estimated 2 million early deaths across the region every year and results in significant economic costs.
Living in an active neighbourhood with walking, cycling and other human-powered options of mobility offers substantial health, environmental and social benefits. It’s a sustainable and equitable solution that can transform our cities by reducing air pollution, improving public health, and fostering vibrant urban environments.
Bhubaneswar has an opportunity to transform itself through one of the most cost-effective ways to promote sustainability, enhance health and reduce pollution in urban settings.
Bhubaneswar urban infrastructure that supports active travel can replace thousands of car journeys, directly reducing vehicle emissions and air pollution which causes 8.1 million deaths annually across the globe. In Bhubaneswar, around 40% of trips are under 5 kilometres, 40% of trips are under 5 to 10 kilometres and 20% under 15 kilometres — distances that can easily be covered by bicycle, public transport, walk or EVs etc.
In cities where transport emissions are high, enhancing walking and cycling infrastructure can bring immediate air quality benefits. The transport sector accounts for a significant portion of urban greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and traffic is a major contributor to urban air pollution. Research shows that walking and cycling could reduce urban transport GHG emissions by 2 to 10%, making active mobility one of the most effective climate actions cities can pursue. Bhubaneswar must take clue from cities around the world that are finding purposeful and creative ways to promote active mobility and harness its benefits.
Copenhagen seems to be the most ambitious city in terms of its objectives. The Danish capital plans to be a zero-carbon city in just five years’ time. In order to achieve this, pedestrians are provided more space than bicycles, and bicycles have more space than cars in some areas of the city. Copenhagen is hot on the heels of Amsterdam in the race to become the most bicycle-friendly city in the world, with the installation of resting bars at traffic lights so that cyclists can stop without touching the ground at take-away coffee zones designed for clients using a bicycle, and even minibus-type bikes that can take up to six children at a time to school.
Over the past 20 years, air quality has improved in cities around the globe. The Ultra Low Emission Zone in London caused a 53% drop in harmful nitrogen dioxide levels in central London, and more than a 20% decrease in inner and outer London within a year of its expansion. Similarly, Berlin saw a 73% reduction in NO2 levels and an 86% reduction in particulate matter (PM10) levels over several years, showcasing the impact of policies that prioritise active travel and sustainable transport. In the Netherlands, cycling is estimated to prevent 6,400 deaths annually and extend life expectancy by six months. This reduces healthcare savings corresponding to more than 3% of the Dutch gross domestic product.
A study in five Latin American cities showed that increasing walking and cycling mode shares could avoid about ten premature deaths caused by traffic incidents per 100,000 people each year. Bogotá’s Barrios Vitales initiative focuses on transforming 33 neighbourhoods by enhancing access to bike lanes, public transport, and public services, thereby improving air quality and road safety while promoting social interaction and equity.
Bhubaneswar can use various modelling tools to estimate the health impacts of active travel investments. These tools help policymakers plan and implement effective transport policies that maximise health benefits. Investing in active travel is a cost-effective strategy to improve urban health, reduce pollution, and build more connected and equitable cities. Cities like Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam and Lagos already have high rates of walking and cycling, demonstrating the potential for active travel solutions in diverse urban contexts.
The good news is that countries and cities are already taking action to make their neighbourhoods liveable. As cities like Bhubaneswar face an accelerating climate, air pollution, and public health crises, city leaders and policymakers must act boldly to scale up active travel initiatives. They must draw inspiration from cities that have successfully integrated active travel into their urban planning. Investing in active travel is a cost-effective strategy to improve urban health, reduce pollution, and build more connected and equitable cities.
Cities around the globe have realised widening roads or facilitating more cars are not solving traffic congestion, rather it takes away the city from its people. Therefore, Bhubaneswar must revisit its own plans to drop ideas of widening roads or having more flyovers to solve its traffic and congestion problems.
On International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, city leaders and policymakers must resolve to act boldly to scale up active travel initiatives for better life and blue skies over yellow ones. They must draw inspiration from cities that have successfully integrated active travel into their urban planning.
