MOU

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Between Directorate of Urban Land Transport1,
Urban development Department, Government of Karnataka
And Jaaga2

This Memorandum of Understanding has been entered into on 30th day of September of 2011 between Directorate of Urban Land Transport represented by Commissioner which expression shall unless repugnant to the context mean and include its successors and assigns of the ONE PART and Jaaga represented by its Director which expression unless repugnant to the context mean and include its successors and assigns of the OTHER PART.

The objective of the exercise is to analyze the accessibility problems and to design pedestrian paths cycle routes etc. in collaboration with the community.  Jaaga will be the  lead agency for the purposes of reporting the progress, and to receive funds from Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT). Given the wide range of experience available with jaaga in public consultation and studies done earlier about the cultural areas, Social , public and heritage of malleshwaram, DULT is keen to establish the right mechanisms to engage with Jaaga for taking up this project of  “Neighbourhood Accessibility Planning in Malleswaram”.

1 Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) has been set up by the Government of Karnataka under the Urban Development Department with objective to coordinate planning and implementation of Urban Transport projects and programs. Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) is also constituted for the Bangalore Metropolitan Region (BMR) as umbrella organization. All transport projects in the BMR are being brought under the purview of the BMLTA. The final project report will be placed in BMLTA.

2 Jaaga is a Public Charitable Trust that Supports artists, technologists, social and environmental change activists. Researches and documents spaces, events and practices that are or will be of importance to the overall cultural history of the city of Bangalore. Provides space + basic infrastructure + mentorship to start-ups.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

Malleswaram has remained a hub of creative and cultural activities since its foundation in the early 1800’s. With several schools of classical Indian dance be it Bharatanatyam or Kathak, percussion schools, auditoriums and galleries promoting the arts, to more recent art groups like Bar 1, Ananya Art Gallery and Guruskool, Malleswaram seems to have its heart set – then and now – on Culture.

Today Malleshwaram is faced with several real issues. Due to the rapid increase in the number of cars and two-wheelers the walking space/ living space in the neighbourhood is congested. Apart from traffic problems, the residents, particularly children, are facing severe air and sound pollution. Hence there is an urgent need to explore alternate nonmotorized transport solutions which will give equitable access to the open spaces in the neighbourhood.

The objective of this proposal is to research and develop a sustainable and participatory design of Malleswaram from a traffic-congested commuter street into a more environmentally and culturally conscious, pedestrian-friendly corridor. This design will help to support the development of recent and upcoming projects (as and when the Namma Metro becomes operational) along the corridor as well as aid the emergence of sustainable community engagement in the process of rehabilitating their locality.

SCOPE OF PROJECT

The project involves the implementation of the following activities:

  • Identify the main contributors to the neighbourhood’s cultural history
  • Interview residents of Malleswaram
  • Engage the residents in group discussions towards building a more informed community
  • Document the process
  • Create an online achive of documents that can be accessible to the public
  • Suggest a design guideline towards the proposed heritage walk & bike ways

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The objectives of this exercise are as follows:

  1. To take a stock of the existing environment for non-motorized transport in the given area.
  2. To assess the problems faced by the local people especially the elderly, children and disabled in making use of the available infrastructure.
  3. To formulate a project for improvement of existing infrastructure through a participatory process of planning and designing.
  4. To ensure that good connectivity  to educational institutions and public transit etc, and also to areas of cultural, historical or commercial importance in the given area with an objective to encourage people to use walking and cycling to commute short distances.
  5. During this process of planning, a critical look should also been taken on redesigning in the public place and for redistribution of land if available, areas where lively social interactions could happen.
  6. As a part of the process, it is also required to look at road safety issues, need for traffic calming and other traffic management issues etc.
  7. Study the travel pattern of the people residing at Malleswaram
  8. Identify a network of cycle routes and prepare a network map.
  9. Identify the heritage / social landmarks.
  10. To look at road safety, traffic calming and other traffic management issues.
  11. To assess the problems faced by the elderly people, children and disabled.
  12. Identification of interventions / traffic calming measures necessary to make study area cycle friendly.
  13. Involve community in the planning process

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

DULT agrees to undertake the following:

The Directorate of urban land transport proposes to take up a project for neighborhood accessibility planning for improving local conditions for walking and cycling, and facilitating safe routes to schools and transit in the identified study area in Malleswaram.

  1. A thorough documentation of the main transport connections into Malleswaram will be conducted.
  2. A network of cycle friendly streets map will be designed.
  3. Traffic calming measures necessary to make study area cycle friendly will be suggested and Locations for installing cycle stands and signages will be provided.
  4. All the necessary traffic surveys will be conducted by DULT.
  5. The questions relating to travel patterns etc., will be given by Directorate of Urban Land Transport to Jaaga which the field personnel from Jaaga will conduct the combined traffic and heritage survey(Questioner).
  6. Based on community inputs the final routes will be mapped.

JAGGA agrees to undertake the following:

  • To formulate a project for improvement of existing infrastructure through a participatory process of planning and designing.
  • Interview residents of Malleswaram, Engage the residents in group discussions towards building a more informed community
  • Document the process
  • To assess the problems faced by the local people especially the elderly, children and disabled in making use of the available infrastructure.

>> Creation of wikisite
A wiki site that is open to the public will be created to document the process and progress of this project. An exhaustive list of relevant social, public, heritage and cultural areas in Malleshwarm will be shown in the Wiki site. A photo log of all the heritage sites and project process in Malleshwaram will be shot and posted onto the online wiki.

>> Video interviews
A series of short films about people, institutions, spaces and the project process will be created and published on the wiki as a special online project channel. Thorough photo documentation of the process of mapping and designing to be conducted and published on the wiki. Scope of work for Videographer is to create a weekly episode tracking the progress of this project. These videos to include people from the community voicing their opinions and captures of key socio-cultural spaces. The videos to contain samples of workshops, community meetings and public outreach attempts. The videos to be 5-8 mins each.

>> Surveys
The survey/interview formats have to be approved by DULT.  The questions relating to travel patterns etc., will be given by Directorate of Urban Land Transport.  The field personnel should administer the formats including questions on travel patterns etc.

A minimum Sample of 1-2% of households in the area will be surveyed.

>> Documentation
After completion of the project period, a detailed document(in form of a website including rich media like photos and videos and .PDF) should be made containing the various steps involved in the process, documentation, draft/final accessibility plans, plan of action for future etc.

>> Hiring people and scope of work

  • Team Leader Jaaga will be responsible for hiring the team members.
  • Field professionals will be trained to conduct the surveys/interviews.
  • Community engagement officer must be Masters in Social Work or Masters level candidate who has a good track record for socially relevant work and must have experience in community organization etc.

>> Setting up office

  • DULT will request BBMP to provide space at Malleshwaram- BBMP office.
  • Jaaga to take care of setting up of other necessary arrangements such as Telephone and Internet Line.

>> Public Consultation / Seminar / Workshops
Public opinion survey needs to be carried out during the data collection (traffic and household surveys, Cultural and heritage surveys) and workshops through questionnaire by the team Jaaga
Public seminar / workshop need to be held before the finalization of the report.

  • 1 Team training session
  • 2 Community Meetings (including a kick-off meet)
  • 2 Workshops
  • 2 Design Engagement Meetings has to be conducted in this process of study.

NOTE: The cost incurring in the Public Consultation / Seminar / Workshops will be reimbursed to Jaaga

 

TERM AND REVIEW

  • This MOU will take effect from the date it is signed by the authorized representatives of the two organizations.
  • DULT and JAAGA agrees that the term of this MOU will be for the period of 3 months from the date of signing. At the end of this period, both parties may agree in writing to extend this agreement (If needed).
  • Jaaga Team will have periodic meetings with Commissioner DULT to update the progress of project.
  • Jaaga team will not share or propagate the information collected without the permission of Comissioner , DULT
  • This MOU may be terminated by DULT or Jaaga by giving one months’ notice in writing

DULT reserves the right to cancel the work awarded for any in ordinate delay in completion of work in such case payment shall not be made. The decision of Commissioner remains final.

 

 DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The decision of Commissioner remains final in case of any disputes regarding methodology of work, role clarity etc

 

MISCELLANEOUS

This MOU may be amended by mutual written consent of the two organizations.

Date of Signing : 30th of September 2011
V.Manjula Archana Prasad
Commissioner Director
Directorate of Urban Land Transport, Jaaga
Urban development Department  
Government of Karnataka