Vijayawada Municipal Corporation launches Streets for People Design competition

Vijayawada: Municipal commissioner V Prasanna Venkatesh said that Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has launched the Streets for People Design Competition to crowd source innovative ideas and attract citizen participation in reimagining streets as safe, healthy and happy public spaces for all.

Vijayawada was one of 113 Indian cities registered for the Streets for People Challenge, an initiative of Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

The design competition was open to all professionals and students from architecture, urban planning and other relevant fields. The design competition will emphasise quick, innovative, and easy-to-test economical solutions that prioritise walkability and liveability on the street.

The participants must prioritise the following simple and effective principles while providing their design ideas: fair distribution of space, safety and security, comfort, sensitivity to local context, liveability and environmental sustainability.

As part of it, Vijayawada has selected Sivalayam street (along with main SN Puram Main Road) and Ajith Singh Nagar (VAMBAY Colony) sites for the design competition. Participants can select either or both site typologies to develop design and policy solutions that activate spaces to make it safe, healthy and happy by using place making elements, reorganising existing activities and by introducing new activities.

The entries in the competition will be evaluated by local officials, citizens, experts, and other stakeholders. The relevant details about eligibility criteria, submission requirements, and participation guidelines can be found on the official website: smartnet.niua.org/indiastreetchallenge/competition/. Design registration link for Vijayawada can be found on the official website: https://smartnet.niua.org/indiastreetchallenge/cities/vijayawada/.

U Sarada Devi, additional commissioner (Projects), nodal officer from VMC and Imran Basha, city coordinator from the UN-Habitat were invited as panellists for the third online workshop of the Streets for People Challenge. For registration and submission of design entries, citizens can visit above weblink.