France to help make city leader in livability, innovation: Envoy

The French connection of the City Beautiful continues. From being designed by Le Corbusier to meeting the challenges of the Smart City Mission, Chandigarh is relying on technical support from France to emerge as a leader in livability, sustainability, equality and innovation.

In an exclusive interview with The Tribune, a day before he arrives in Chandigarh on Wednesday, the Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, said the Smart City Mission had spurred Chandigarh to create a new vision for its urban future. Mobility and basic services would be the salient and cross-cutting aspects of this vision. Excerpts from the interview:

The decision to help develop three smart cities in India — Chandigarh, Nagpur and Puducherry — was taken during the visit of the then President Francois Hollande in 2016. What parts of the agreements have moved beyond paper?

French experts have been travelling regularly to Chandigarh, Delhi, Nagpur and Puducherry for providing technical assistance for the past three years. Three MoUs were signed between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the municipalities of these cities to assist them.

How do you make cities sustainable today? What experiences can you share from France?

Urban development is a sector in which France possesses expertise. France is a global advocate of sustainable urban development. It has decided to modernise its urban transport sector. Our cities have given a considerable push to the development of buses and the BRT, and promote the use of bicycles in urban areas.

The pace of creating smart cities is slow as it needs land acquisition, approval for environmental contracts. Do you see these as roadblocks?

It calls for prioritising projects factoring in territorial development. A Smart City is a well-governed city with citizen participation! For this, knowhow is important. And that’s why France and the AFD signed an MoU in 2016 with Chandigarh.

What specific projects have been identified for the 100-million euro loan agreement between French development bank AFD and the Indian Government towards smart cities?

Four sectors have been targeted: low-carbon mobility, public spaces, e-governance through digitised public services and social innovation for poorer areas. Around 15 projects will be selected. An agreement on this was signed during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence on March 10.

French architect Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh, the first planned city of India, after Independence. What changes do you think are required in the city?

The Smart City Mission has spurred Chandigarh to create a new vision for its urban future: “Vibrant and unique regional centre”. Chandigarh has one of the highest rates of vehicles per capita in India. We are helping formulate a new plan for sustainable urban transport as well as identifying a fresh strategy for a new public transport network. The municipality is also developing its water supply system to provide its inhabitants drinking water 24X7. We are considering financing this ambitious project.

Which modernisation and development plans from France do you think can be replicated in Chandigarh?

France has a long-standing history of urban planning and knowhow on mobility. SYTRAL, which takes care of the city of Lyon’s public transport, is assisting Kochi in the Metro network. AFD’s financing for the city of Chandigarh includes public partnerships with French institutions, in charge of conceiving public transport.

French firm Egis International is to develop Chandigarh as a Smart City. What is the progress and what all areas in Chandigarh need improvement?

Egis is one of France’s flagship companies. The group has a 2,000-strong workforce in the country. Citizen participation helped define the priority areas for Chandigarh’s urban development. Mobility, round-the-clock drinking water supply, built heritage preservation and valorisation and development of Sector 43 are the main areas we intend to support.

To decide the future modes of transport for Chandigarh, French consultant Systra MVA Consulting Pvt Ltd has submitted two reports. How long will it take to submit the final report?

Systra commenced a mobility study in April 2017 to find the best solution for upgrading the public transport system, fitting people’s needs without impacting the city’s architectural heritage. The objective is to update the 2009 Comprehensive Mobility Plan and identify main corridors for a mass transport system. The last phase of the study should be completed by August this year.