Page 18 - TrafficInfraTech Magazine - July Digital Edition

NEWS FEATURE

Rethinking Road Infrastructure

in Developing Economies

The 16th World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR), which was held
during 17th to 21st July 2023, witnessed a thought-provoking panel discussion
on “Are traditional Urban Road Infrastructure interventions any more relevant in
fast-growing Developing Economies? – Understanding from Sustainability lens”.
Renowned transportation experts from around the world convened to shed light on
the pressing challenges and promising opportunities faced by developing economies
in their pursuit of sustainable development. The panel discussion was expertly
moderated by Prof. Ashish Verma, a distinguished professor from the Department
of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

The The agenda points for
the panel discussion:-

1. What is our understanding
of current transport system
development in Developing
Economies, in particular, in
the context of Sustainable
Development?
2. In relation to the above,
how do you see the
role of traditional road
infrastructure measures from
the lens of sustainability?
3. What are the opportunities
for developing economies From left to right: Prof. Louise Reardon, Prof. Ashish Verma,
to leapfrog to a more Prof. Samer Madanat, Prof. Ali Huzayyin, Dr. Binyam Reja
sustainable transport system
learning from historical of their economic growth. others and make significant
trajectory and experience of He emphasized the need to leaps towards sustainable
developed economies? control the surge in motorized transportation systems.
4. What reforms in governance private vehicles during this Prof. Ali Huzayyin from Cairo
of transport and policy period and to avoid replicating University, Egypt, shed light
making can accelerate the the unsustainable trends on the positives and negatives
sustainable growth for (car ownership per 1000 associated with infrastructural
Developing economies? population growth along development. He underscored
with GDP per capita growth)
Prof. Verma set the observed in developed the importance of infrastructure
context for the discussion nations like the USA and in linking cities and connecting
them to ports, thus facilitating
by highlighting the unique UK. He saw this period as economic growth and mobility
challenges faced by both challenging and full for both public and private
developing economies like of opportunities - a time to transport. But there are
BRICS, still in the early stages learn from the experiences of

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