Alli Serona, the Bengaluru-based collective, brought together key players from the mobility and housing spaces, to surface synergies, gaps and drive towards co-created solutions. With over 640 informal settlements accommodating 44 percent of Bengaluru’s population, residents from the informal sector often cope with issues like unstable housing, limited transportation access, unfair distribution of economic and environmental benefits, and policies. Recognizing these longstanding challenges, this convening event brought together key stakeholders in the mobility and housing sectors at the Bangalore Creative Circus. Themed “Who are cities made by and who are cities made for?,” the event underscored the ongoing need for a multisectoral approach to building inclusive cities — spanning transport, mobility, urban planning, housing, and beyond.
Then convening looked at Bengaluru’s urban challenges, focusing on the city’s struggles with development, mobility, transport, and basic amenities. A key highlight of the convening was the panel discussion titled “Who are cities made by and who are cities made for?” which explored Bengaluru’s historical development and the importance of including the marginalised in decision-making.
Shares Kanishk Kabiraj, a representative from Alli Serona, “Good urban public transport systems are not just critical from an emissions reduction point of view, they are critical in ensuring a good quality of life for residents. With this convening, our aim was to bring together practitioners from across fields to discuss, share and ideate on what true cross-sectoral collaboration means and looks like in creating a liveable city for all”
“A great city is made of three things – people, opportunities, and the space between the two. Bengaluru must bridge the gap between its people and opportunities more effectively. This requires sufficient funding, innovative urban planning, and a focus on enhancing public transportation. By prioritizing these measures, the city can create a fairer, more inclusive urban landscape, reclaim public spaces from vehicles, and improve the overall quality of life for its residents.” Pravar Chaudhary – Lead Designer at Bengawalk
Through this convening, Alli Serona was able to create a constructive dialogue about housing and transportation accessibility for those from the margins of the city, and build an understanding on ways in which a multi-sectoral approach across urban planning, transport, and mobility, housing, and other sectors can bring forth solutions to positively impact the lives of residents.