…So, people can breathe fresh air
Delhi-based urban designer Professor Saran Bhatia is leading the Lifeline Rah campaign
The benefits of walking are self-evident. It not only keeps people healthy but also the environment healthy. Today, many major cities, including our capital, Delhi, are reeling under the impact of pollution. The toxic Air Quality Index (AQI) of the air there is rapidly making people sick. This is causing concern across the country. Environmentalists and health experts are advising people to walk more often to protect their health and the environment. It seems that the day is not far when the government will pay special attention to pedestrian tracks and people will walk more often on the tracks.
A Delhi-based architect has deeply understood this importance of walking. Saran Bhatia, an alumnus of the prestigious School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi and a senior independent architect and urban and interior design consultant has launched a significant campaign with this in mind, known as the Lifeline Rah campaign. His campaign has garnered support from numerous organizations, large and small schools, and colleges.
Born on September 19, 1960, in New Delhi, urban designer Prof. Saran Bhatia is passionate about this campaign. Bhatia graduated from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, in 1983, and subsequently earned a master’s degree in urban design from the same institution. He subsequently taught at his alma mater, the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, as well as at several prestigious institutions, including the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra; Amity university, Noida, the Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon; the TVB School of Habitat Studies, New Delhi; the Vastukala Academy, New Delhi; the South Delhi Polytechnic; the Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi; the National School of Fashion and Technology, New Delhi; and the JD Institute of Fashion and Technology, New Delhi. He is also invited as a jury member in big events of the capital.
He explains that he began this campaign on March 28, 2022. March 28th coincides with the sacred birthday of the Param Purush Dhani Huzur Maharaj Sahib. While four years is a very short time, his campaign has gained global recognition. Numerous TV and radio programs, talk shows, webinars, and other events have been held on his campaign. He has also received support from numerous organizations. The campaign aims to make cities safe, inclusive, and sustainable for pedestrians.
The Ministry of Urban Affairs, Government of India, has launched the Walking Cities campaign. This campaign focuses on promoting cities that are walkable and liveable. Similarly, the Lifelines Rah campaign aims to adopt a people-centric approach instead of car-centric infrastructure, thereby reducing pollution levels and optimizing the use of public spaces. This campaign emphasizes the creation of child-friendly, safe, and inclusive streets that also promote social interaction. Prof. Saran Bhatia shares his perspective with people through various platforms. He says that walking has many benefits. It not only keeps us healthy but also improves the environment and atmosphere around us. Since walking has zero carbon emissions, we avoid harmful pollutants produced by petrol and diesel vehicles. Furthermore, it improves air quality and reduces noise pollution. Furthermore, it reduces traffic congestion on roads, thereby reducing the number of accidents. Prof. Bhatia says that walking and cycling are physical exercises that keep our muscles, bones, and heart healthy. They protect us from many diseases.
Prof. Bhatia also writes articles on the benefits of cycling and raises awareness about it in KOOCHE (The Bicycle), a renowned Iranian magazine. He says that walking or cycling is a global issue today, one that everyone should pay attention to. This is especially needed in the capital, Delhi, because if such campaigns are not launched rapidly, Delhi will become uninhabitable in the near future. Only those forced to do so will remain there. Those with a choice will leave the capital and settle elsewhere. Saran Bhatia also provides his expertise through his urban design service company- ‘Design Heritage’.
If you search for his campaign (Lifeline Rah) on Google, his work in this direction will appear. A wealth of material about this campaign is also available on social media sites. This campaign is gaining popularity across all sections of Delhi. Prof. Saran Bhatia deeply values human relationships and is concerned about the increasing pollution in cities. Given Delhi’s rising Air Quality Index (AQI), his campaign seems even more meaningful.
The overall objective of Lifeline Rah is to ensure that our cities develop and become walkable and liveable. Cities should provide facilities for pedestrians, both those who travel by public transport and those who drive cars. Pedestrians should be provided with maximum space and encouragement. People should have a healthy, less polluted environment and be able to breathe fresh air. Bhatia says that the support his campaign is receiving from people suggests that we shouldn’t lose hope. In the future, this topic will be widely discussed, and people will come forward and support our campaign. Because people know that if we want to create a better world in the future and live together, we must do so. This is the demand of the present and future. Those who don’t keep pace with the times will be left far behind.
