Using Praja to write a policy proposal

Have been missing in action for a week now, but writing this note to draw attention to this proposal (Join hands to write ...) for using Praja.in website as a collaboration tool to develop a transportation policy proposal for Bengaluru.

See, what we saw in Mobilicity was a state-wide Transportation Policy draft. State and urban areas are two different things. Statewide policy would probably have touchpoints with Railways, will have to have mapping around districts, perhaps zonals hubs, both for movement of goods as well as people. Last mile access would have slightly different definition there.

Talking a specific focus area like Bengaluru, or a policy proposal to cover large urban areas of the state (what we tend to dismiss as Tier-2 cities, but these are the places of good hope)., we would end up producing more concrete guidelines, and less of motherhood level talk.

What wiill such a policy proposal do? Probably not much in the short term. But over long term, once better and official policies develop on top of it, it could drive some coordination across multiple agencies. It could drive consistencies across multiple local governments. It could also be good advertizing for our city that is gaining negative reputation on transportation and local governance front.

If a real BMLTA were to be in place, this job would have been easier. But even then, so what, let us all join hands to write something so good that would be hard to ignore. It would be like citizens writing their requirements in organized way.

Worth a try I feel, but it will need part time commitments from at least 20-25 people, some experts, some just moderators. About the technical features to support such a thing on the website, I think that too can be handled.

With about 15-20 active editors, and 6-7 nominated experts, and a good skeleton to start with, I guess it would take about 2-3 months to produce the first solid version.