Varanasi announces winners of Sustainable Cities Challenge

Varanasi is set to scale a portfolio of innovative mobility and crowd-management solutions designed to improve pedestrian movement, accessibility, and resident/ visitor experience across its historic core, Kashi, following the announcement of winners of the Sustainable Cities Challenge (SCC) Varanasi – an initiative led by Varanasi Nagar Nigam in collaboration with the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF), Challenge Works, and WRI India. CityFlow by CITYDATA.AI and Nippon Koei and Janjatra by The Urbanizer were selected as winners and will receive financial and advisory support to scale their solutions across the old city. Behtarway by VOGIC AI and Nayichaal by Prameya Consulting were recognized as “Honorable Mentions” for their contributions towards more inclusive and efficient mobility in Varanasi. The event was graced by Arvind Kumar Sharma, Minister, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh. He was hopeful and enthusiastic to scale the innovative solutions from the Challenge, and looked forward to their impact in Varanasi. Designed to address the complex movement of millions of pilgrims, tourists, and residents through Varanasi’s dense heritage precincts, the selected solutions combine advanced technology and people-centered designs to enhance navigation, improve safety, and support proactive crowd management. CityFlow, developed by CITYDATA.AI in partnership with Nippon Koei, uses big data, computer vision, and generative AI to analyze and manage crowd movement in real time, helping authorities identify and respond to congestion hotspots. Janjatra, developed by The Urbanizer, combines color-coded wayfinding, dynamic digital signage, and tactical urban interventions to improve navigation and ease pressure on heavily used pedestrian routes. The “Honorable Mentions” complement these efforts through targeted mobility interventions. Behtarway, developed by VOGIC AI, is an AI-powered hyperlocal pedestrian navigation platform, while Nayichaal, developed by Prameya Consulting, focuses on improving accessibility and navigability for vulnerable populations in the old city of Kashi.

Source: Read Full Article