Weekly Roundup 032 – 3rd to 9th October

FEATURE REPORT/ ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

‘A bridge too near: a major health risk of land-bridging India and Sri Lanka
Authored by Dr. Mendis, Dr. Abeyesundere and Dr. Herath

In 2010, a NASA Shuttle imaged a mysterious ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana. The evidence, experts from NASA claimed, is stored in the Digital Image Collection. The bridge was named Adam’s bridge and is composed of a chain of shoals, 30 km long, in the Palk Straits between India and Sri Lanka.

In 2015, an article published by the Island newspaper of Sri Lanka, debated the major concerns of reestablishing this as a land bridge between the 2 countries. It brings to light a dimension of urban planning which pushes forward geographic criteria as critical an issue as acute local health measures. According to WHO reports, while Sri Lanka has eradicated Malaria, India continues to battle this massive public health problem. Read the whole piece here to find out more about the urban vector of a physical intervention. It raises questions of the vast, complex and interlinked networks urban planners and designers are required to comprehend before making strategic urban interventions.

Published by The Island.



ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE WEEK

‘Connecting Governance with People – Urban Update August 2015’
Published by All India Institute of Local Self Government

As citizens become more aware of their right, they have become more demanding in terms of better and quicker services from Government. Effective public service today is more about transparency, efficiency and accountability. E-governance initiatives in India have traditionally being confronted with the dual challenges of automating government departments and taking online services to the common man. But now e-governance has moved beyond government departments just having a portal. It is no longer confined to merely streamlining and automating processes. It is about transforming the way governments work and reinventing people’s participation in the democratic planning process. It is about empowering both the government and the citizen.

Technology will be the enabler for the citizen to transcend the boundaries of departments and ministries, and provide a single platform for interaction with its citizens, thus promoting participatory governance and increased transparency and revolutionizing public service delivery. This issue of Urban Update highlights a Digital India where the opportunity for Indian cities to build a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and environment is tantamount to increased public participation.

Read or download the publication here.

VIDEO/ PODCAST OF THE WEEK

‘A bridge delivered’
Created by Stephen Mallon and Princess Hairston

By the turn of the 20th century, intensified manufacturing development in the southern Bronx had rendered the Third Avenue Bridge inadequate for traffic demand. Significant work to strengthen the structure was performed in 1916, when the Union Railway Company routed a trolley line across the bridge. By the early 2000s, the Willis Avenue Bridge exhibited the effects of age, weather and the continual, daily usage by motor vehicles. As part of a $612 million project, DOT completely replaced the bridge, including the FDR Drive approach ramp and the ramp onto Bruckner Boulevard in 2010. this video chronicles the time lapse video following the delivery of the Willis avenue bridge. Created with over 30,000 still images edited down to a crisp and consice four minute video for your viewing pleasure.

A bridge delivered from Stephen Mallon on Vimeo.