Author(s): Chetna Singh, Meenakshi Mital and Anchal Aggarwal

Abstract:
The IGBC Green Township rating system (Pilot Version) was launched in the year 2011 in India. The IGBC Green Townships Rating System is a tool which enables the designer to apply green concepts and criteria, so as to reduce environmental impacts that are measurable. A township is a combination of several communities; a community in turn is a combination of several sectors. Several townships form a city. Transportation Planning is a critical component of a green township that promotes a balance of economic and social benefits of transportation with the need to protect the environment. In cities traffic volumes have increased significantly, despite a great deal of urban transport planning. A major reason for the mounting air pollution woes is the increasing number of vehicles on the road. Increased pace of population growth coupled with increased need of transportation make the category Transportation Planning very important and crucial in Green Townships. The present study entitled “Transportation Planning Credits in Green Townships Rating System” focuses on the technologies and strategies used and the catalysts and hindrances associated with achieving transportation planning credits under IGBC Green Townships rating system. The study was carried out in three green townships namely Wave City Centre, Wave Hi-tech City, both located in NOIDA and Savvy Swaraaj, located in Ahmedabad. Two of the green townships have been certified under IGBC Green Township rating system whereas one is under IGBC Green Township pre-certification. The owner/managers, architect/engineers and sustainability consultants of the selected townships were interviewed to take their perspective on the technologies and strategies used along with the catalysts and hindrances associated with transportation planning category. Further, their suggestions were also taken. Thus, the study gives a vision for making the transportation planning category credits easier to attempt and attain by green township developers. This would make it possible for the developers to attempt every strategy and earn all possible points under transportation planning category. As the transportation planning of any township is crucial in terms of better connectivity, social responsibility and wellbeing, the study shows a way forward to understand the problems faced during the attainment of transportation planning credits and ways to reduce these hindrances so that the projects target highest level of certification by earning all points under transportation category and thus help in accelerating the green building movement.