Environmental organization Greenpeace India has put forward an ambitious proposal to transform a key area in Mysuru as part of its ongoing City Rising Campaign. The initiative focuses on creating a model street near the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), addressing critical accessibility issues while promoting sustainable urban development.
Addressing Accessibility Challenges at AIISH Junction
The proposed model street specifically targets the crowded AIISH junction, which has long posed significant challenges for people with disabilities. This junction serves as a crucial access point for patients traveling from across India to receive specialized treatment at AIISH. The current infrastructure fails to adequately accommodate individuals with mobility challenges, creating barriers to essential healthcare services.
Greenpeace India's plan envisions comprehensive improvements including safer pedestrian crossings, clearly visible signboards, enhanced public awareness, and an inclusive urban design that prioritizes people over vehicles. The model aims to establish a new standard for equitable urban planning in Mysuru while maintaining low-carbon principles.
Imaginarium Event Sparks Community Vision
As part of the campaign rollout, Greenpeace India organized an innovative Imaginarium event at the Wadiyar Institute of Architecture on Sunday. The organization transformed the campus into a collaborative space where Mysuru residents could actively participate in reimagining their city's future.
The interactive forum brought together students, urban planners, community leaders, and local citizens to visualize a Mysuru that prioritizes accessibility, climate resilience, and human-centered design. Through creative exercises, visual mapping sessions, and open discussions, participants explored how the city could evolve over the next two to three decades.
Salomi Ghatnaik, campaigner at Greenpeace India, emphasized the importance of community involvement in urban transformation. "The Imaginarium is part of our effort to help residents reclaim the future of their cities," she stated. "Cities change when people refuse to accept decline. Across South Asia, communities are already defending their trees, streets, and commons, proving that the current trajectory isn't inevitable."
From Vision to Practical Implementation
The Imaginarium serves as a foundational step toward tangible urban improvements. Ghatnaik explained that the event allows community members to dream without constraints, with these shared ideas subsequently feeding into practical place-making initiatives.
The approach focuses on implementing small but meaningful enhancements that collectively transform public spaces. These include shaded seating areas, safer road junctions, green pockets, drinking water facilities, and community rest zones. This gradual, community-driven transformation represents a significant shift from traditional top-down urban planning methods.
Greenpeace India has previously conducted similar Imaginarium events in other Indian cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Calicut. The organization's City Rising Campaign continues to gain momentum as it works toward creating more livable, accessible, and sustainable urban environments across the country.
The Mysuru initiative particularly stands out for its focus on addressing the needs of people with disabilities while simultaneously advancing climate-conscious urban design principles. If successfully implemented, the model street near AIISH could serve as a blueprint for similar transformations in other cities facing comparable accessibility challenges.
