Eatsmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge

In News

Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge.

About

Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge

• • It was launched in collaboration with The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy(ITDP).
  • The first edition of the Challenge focuses on digital innovation.
    • Cities and start-ups will receive guidance to develop and test various solutions, learn from them, and scale them to build people’s trust in public transport .
• All the Smart Cities Mission cities, capitals of states and union territories (UTs), and all cities with a population of over 5 lakhs—are eligible for the Challenge.
• Three Stages of the Challenge
  •  Stage I PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring problems that citizens and public transport operators face
  •  Stage II SOLUTION GENERATION: Start-ups develop prototypes of solutions to improve public transport with inputs from cities and NGOs
  • Stage III PILOT TESTING: Cities engage start-ups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions based on citizen feedback
• Objectives
  • To develop digital solutions that will make public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable for all.
  •  To support the cities and start-ups all over the country to move towards digital transformation in urban mobility.

Similar Initiatives to address Urban Transport issues

• National Public Bicycle Scheme (NPBS): In 2011, NPBS was launched to build capacity for the implementation and operation of cycle sharing systems across the country. The first public bicycle sharing (PBS) initiative — Trin Trin was launched in Mysuru.

• Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission JNNURM, 2005:
  • JNNURM was launched in 2005 and closed in 2014. It is now succeeded by Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
  • It attempted to improve the public transport system in larger cities through funding of public transport buses, development of comprehensive city mobility plans and supporting city transport infrastructure projects

• Mass Rapid Transit/ Transport Systems (MRTS): In 2017, the government introduced a new Metro Policy which aims to improve collaborations, standardising norms, financing and creating a procurement mechanism so that the projects can be implemented effectively.

• National Transit Oriented Development Policy, 2017:The policy framework aims to promote living close to mass urban transit corridors like the Metros, monorail and bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors.

• Personal Rapid Transit System (PRT): It is a transport mode combining small automated vehicles, known as pods, operating on a network of specially built guideways.
• Green Urban Mobility Initiative: The Indian government launched the Green Urban Mobility Initiative (GUMI) to boost green and sustainable alternatives under the Smart Cities Mission.

EatSmart Cities Challenge

• The launch event of the EatSmart Cities Challenge was organized in association with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It  is envisioned as a competition among cities to recognize their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India.
•  The challenge is open to all Smart Cities, capital cities of States /UTs, and cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
•  At the end of the first phase of the challenge, 11 cities will be selected for deeper engagement for an extended period to implement their vision.

Objectives

• To motivate Smart Cities to develop a plan that supports a healthy, safe and sustainable food environment supported by institutional, physical, social, and economic infrastructure along with the application of ‘smart’ solutions to combat food-related issues.

 Significance       

•  It will be a game-changer in creating social and behavioural change towards food safety, hygiene and nutrition.

• It will create an environment of right food practices and habits.
• It will build awareness among the consumers and urge them to make better food choices in India’s major cities .
  • Other similar initiatives
• • • The ‘Eat Right India’ movement -It  was initiated by FSSAI under the aegis of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has gone a long way in creating awareness amongst the people about eating safe, healthy and sustainably.
• The Food Safety Mitra scheme -It aims to support small and medium-scale food businesses so as to comply with the food safety laws .
  • It will facilitate them with the licensing and registration process, hygiene ratings and training programme.

Source :PIB