Concrete to Jungle: Making Public Transit Greener

In Mumbai, green public transport infrastructure doesn’t have to just be about sustainability and reducing carbon footprints, it can literally be a breath of fresh air. (Credits: Krish Mewawala)

Ever look at the beautiful, tiny little plant peeping out of the sidewalk at the bus stop on your way to work and wonder how that little guy got there to begin with, just to realize it’s his space?

The ever-growing need for ‘more’ not ‘better’ infrastructure, to cater to the tremendous burst in population has played a major role in stripping our cities and towns of their flora and fauna. The public transit infrastructure takes up a huge chunk of this, like Mumbai's Suburban Railway Network that’s constantly expanding, and the most recent addition- the Mumbai Metro. They take up more and more of what’s left of the vegetation, often with no environmental compensation for the damage caused. “Greenifying” public transit infrastructure can give our concrete-filled cities a head start towards being more sustainable.

Green infrastructure is based on the idea that human societies can benefit from the protection of natural ecosystems and from the integration of these very ecosystems and natural processes into planning and development. There is a common misconception that sustainability and economic development are trade-offs, which is simply not true. In fact, sustaining and preserving nature provides for future economic development and is an investment in our future and that of the generations to come.

There are two aspects of green infrastructure:

Inter-connectivity: Highlights the importance of linking natural and man-made ecosystems and connecting natural processes to human infrastructural needs.

Multi-Functionality: Refers to the ability of green infrastructure to deliver multiple benefits, meaning that the adoption of a nature-based strategy can provide versatile solutions for decision-makers.

The lack of greenery in Mumbai is starting to get out of hand; research has shown that Mumbai and Delhi are two of the least sustainable cities in the world. Issues like storm water runoff are already starting to affect the well being of the citizens of Mumbai given the acute water shortage and lack of clean drinking water in most of the slums. The city has also lost a tremendous amount of natural habitats for animals, birds and insects and it’s disrupting the food chain not only in Mumbai but the rest of the state as well.

The heat island effect, a phenomena where a city is significantly warmer than surrounding areas has also been in play here for a long time. Along with causing heat-related illnesses and deaths, it impairs our water quality since high temperatures heat up storm water runoff and has a drastic impact on aquatic life and general region temperatures.

Mumbai can learn from some of the greenest cities in the world on this journey towards sustainability.

These roofs in Utrecht capture particulate matter, salvage rainwater instead of letting it run off into sewers and other unsanitary locations, keep the heat at bay, and of course, look fresh and beautiful. (Credits: Ramon Poulissen)

We can take notes from the famous and highly functional green bus stops in Utrecht. These bus stops have green roofs that feature plants that are easy to maintain and good to look at, all while serving their real purpose. The bus stops run on solar energy obtained from the overhead solar panels, there’s bamboo seating and LED lights to reduce electricity wastage. To get corporations and private entities to invest in projects that are green, they have subsidies for setting up these green public transit spaces and are heavily encouraged by their government.

The inhabitants of the buildings and their neighbors noticed a boost in mood due to a green space in a tightly packed city like NYC, noticed species of birds that have not been seen in years perch around, and reported a reduction in their use of air conditioners. (Credits: Planet Ware)

New York, one of the most packed, concrete-filled cities in the world has a bunch of roofs with huge green spaces. The inhabitants of the buildings and their neighbors noticed a boost in mood due to a green space in a tightly packed city like NYC.

The aesthetic-value that green infrastructure provides can be a huge boon for tourism. New York City’s Central Park is second only to the Statue of Liberty when it comes to sightseeing. A quick scroll through the Instagram feed of any recent visitor to Singapore is sure to reveal a picture of the city’s famed botanical “supertrees”. 

It comes down to making better use of the spaces by making them greener as well as incorporating green infrastructure in upcoming public transit projects. These are the first few steps towards making your city more sustainable, eco-friendly, and gorgeous to look at.