As part of the ‘Nurturing Neighbourhood Challenge’ initiative launched by Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in November last year, Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) has initiated neighbourhood-level pilot projects at five sites in Bidipeth area. The ‘Nurturing Neighbourhood Challenge’ aims at working with Indian cities and their partners to pilot and scale ways to improve public space, mobility, neighbourhood planning, access to early childhood services and amenities and data management across city agencies. During the initial three-month application period, over 100 cities were engaged through remote or in-person discussions and online capacity-building workshops. NSSCDCL, under Nagpur Smart City project, had submitted proposal of neighbourhood-level pilot projects in Bidipeth area of city with five sites including Primary Health Centre (PHC), three public gardens including Trikoni Park and Tara Garden and a road junction. The aim was to have mobility and access to basic services to enhance physical and psychological health of young children and their caregivers.

 

The Ministry had announced 25 shortlisted cities for ‘Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge’. Nagpur is among these 25 shortlisted cities in the country, and only one city from Maharashtra. As pilot project, NSSCDCL has recently implemented interventions in Bidipeth area. In Trikoni Park, emphasis has been placed on rejuvenating play areas for kids. Play areas with nature elements have been proposed with child farming area, children’s cycle track, infographic boards/charts, seating spaces created using waste tyres, bird nests, groundwater recharge. Plain walls have been painted with infographics portraying importance of good health, sustainability, etc. In collaboration with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), NSSCDCL celebrated ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ recently. Dayashankar Tiwari, Mayor, inaugurated events in Trikoni Park in presence of Buvneswari S, Chief Executive Officer of NSSCDCL. Mayor acknowledged various interventions proposed under ‘Nurturing Neighbourhood Challenge’, and also inaugurated the event of labeling various trees disseminating tree information.

 

According to NSSCDCL, there is huge response from children, senior citizens, and residents towards the pilot interventions. Weather roof shed, seating area, ramp for disabled, public toilets, drinking water facility, wash basin, separate entry to pathology laboratory, etc have been proposed in PHC. The Anganwadi near the PHC will be connected to the open space with vibrant colours on streets for pacing down traffic movement. In Tara Garden, biodiversity park is proposed with sensory garden for kids. The focus has been on safe and sustainable neighbourhood with climate resilient interventions. World Resources Institute and BVL are knowledge partners of the Union Ministry. ICLEI South Asia has funded the pilot interventions in Trikoni Park under Urban LEED Project-2 and Earthlings Studio has implemented those. The concepts and designs for the sites have been developed in consultation with planning team of NSSCDCL. The project will be taken up soon at all five sites with permanent placing and will be scaled further to other parts of city with identified locations, stated NSSCDCL.