Another view on the Mylapore streetscape lecture - Opportunity vs Need

Most Infrastructure Projects are synthesized from public pain points. For example a flyover is built when decongestion becomes the need of the hour. New pipes are laid when there is shortage of water and so on. These projects would be championed by the public themselves as it has a direct effect and the media glorifies such initiatives. Netas consider these as feathers on their caps and leverage them as credentials.

Historically, Indian streets never had the concept of an organized street scape (more so in Mylapore which by itself is a historical place). You would find everything on Indian streets, ranging from flea markets, street food, hawkers, beggars to transformers (Kavitha pointed this out) and even garbage. And we have been happily living in this mess. In a broad sense, a better streetscape was never a burning issue for a developing country like ours and we had bigger problems to worry about, like shortage of everything (except people).

Kavitha's project intended to fundamentally change the idea of how the society looks at a walkway. She felt that the neighborhood deserved more - Much appreciated. However, this was opportunity based (not need based).

Now, lets consider Kavitha's mention of the "Car free Sundays" at Besant Nagar, which is a metropolitan locality (in contrast with the orthodox Mylapore). Perhaps Besant Nagar, with broad minded people, would possibly have accepted an opportunity based project.

Prof. Ashwin mentioned that this a stakeholder management issue and it clearly seems to be one. The thin line of difference between opportunity and need impacts the support received from parties involved. And this can make or break projects.

Other views are welcome....