Shows
The OoruLabs PodcastOverton window as a guide to understanding political action | S3E15***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of the OoruLabs, India’s premier urban affairs podcast, host Sathya Sankaran explores the complexities of political decision-making through the lens of public choice theory and the Overton window. The discussion delves into how politicians prioritize self-interest and popularity, the dynamics of policy acceptance, and the gradual societal changes that influence what is considered normative. The episode emphasizes the importance of civil society and market actions in shifting public opinion and making radical ideas more acceptable....2025-04-1108 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow bad are our cities for the disabled? | S3E13***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of OoruLabs, India’s premier Urban Affairs podcast, Sathya Sankaran, explores the multifaceted aspects of disability in society, focusing on the prevalence of disabilities, the role of technology in enhancing accessibility, government initiatives like the UDID card, and the challenges faced in urban environments. The discussion emphasizes the importance of empathy, awareness, and the need for inclusive policies to support individuals with disabilities. The conversation delves into the various challenges and solutions surrounding accessibility for people with dis...2025-03-2856 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCustomer centricity, talent and systems in government | S3E12***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of OoruLabs, India’s premier Urban Affairs podcast, Sathya Sankaran discusses the challenges of urban planning in Bengaluru, highlighting the limitations of traditional master plans and advocating for a more dynamic, local approach to city management. He emphasizes the need for integrated land use and transport planning, the importance of citizen engagement, and the necessity of a cultural shift within government bureaucracy to prioritize the needs of citizens over vested interests.-Keywords2025-03-2112 min
The OoruLabs PodcastTo plan or not to plan? | S3E11***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join This episode of OoruLabs, India’s premier Urban Affairs podcast explainer series explores the complexities of urban planning, its historical evolution, and the challenges faced by modern cities, particularly in India. The host, Sathya Sankaran, discusses the importance of urban planning in enhancing the quality of life, the historical context of city development, and the shift towards mixed-use zoning. The conversation also addresses the debate over master plans and the effectiveness of cities that operate without them.-2025-03-1409 min
The OoruLabs PodcastTaxes, negotiations or entrepreneurs, who will solve for social cost? | S3E10***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Sathya Sankaran discusses urban congestion and pollution, exploring the concept of negative externalities and the various methods to internalize these costs. He delves into the Pigovian tax, Coase theorem, and private solutions, highlighting the complexities and challenges in addressing these issues effectively.-Keywordsurban congestion, pollution, negative externalities, Pigovian tax, Coase theorem, private solutions, social cost, environmental policy, public goods, market failure—Tak...2025-03-0711 min
The OoruLabs PodcastShould we stop building more roads in cities? | S3E9***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Sathya Sankaran discusses the complexities of road expansion and traffic congestion, emphasizing that simply adding more road capacity is not a sustainable solution. He explores the concept of public goods, opportunity costs, and the law of induced demand, illustrating how increased road supply often leads to more traffic rather than alleviating it. The conversation shifts towards the importance of efficient road utilization and the need for a comprehensive infrastructure network that prioritizes various m...2025-02-2812 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat is anyones incentive to solve for the city? | S3E8***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Sathya Sankaran explores the reasons behind urban transport choices in India, the role of government in urban planning, and the implications of public choice theory. He discusses the rational ignorance of voters, the incentives that drive politicians, and the challenges of collective decision-making. The conversation emphasizes the importance of bridging information asymmetry to align individual and collective interests, ultimately advocating for a political agenda that prioritizes long-term collective outcomes.-2025-02-2112 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAll about Namma Raste second edition | S3E7***Support the podcast, become a member:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Sathya Sankaran talks about the second edition of the Nama raste event in Bengaluru with Pawan Munukutla of WRI India. It focuses on urban mobility challenges, community engagement, and the role of local organizations and the BBMP in improving transportation infrastructure. -KeywordsNamaraste, Bengaluru, mobility, community engagement, BBMP, urban planning, transportation, public transport, sustainable choices, citizen participation—TakeawaysThe Namaraste even...2025-02-1421 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHistory and the future of governance | S3E6***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
In this episode of the Uru Labs podcast, Sathya Sankaran explores the evolution of government from monarchies to modern democratic systems, highlighting key political philosophers like Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. The discussion delves into the social contract theory, the role of government in protecting individual rights, and the management of public goods. The episode concludes with a thought-provoking look at the future of governance in the age of artificial intelligence and the potential need for a new social contract.2025-02-0713 min
The OoruLabs PodcastThe theory that may provide answers | S3E5***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast, discusses the collective action problem, particularly in the context of urban congestion and pollution. He explains the tragedy of the commons, where individual self-interest leads to collective negative outcomes. The conversation explores potential solutions, including collectivization, market-driven approaches, and government intervention, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted strategy to address these pressing issues.
-
Keywords
collective action, tragedy of the commons, u...2025-01-3115 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs the road in your city a public good? S3E4***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast, explores the concept of public goods, their characteristics, and classifications. He explains the definitions of public, common, and private goods, emphasising the implications of these classifications in urban infrastructure and resource management. The discussion highlights the interplay between different types of goods and the role of government in provisioning common goods, while also raising questions about the valuation of depleting resources and the collective action problem.
...2025-01-2409 min
The OoruLabs PodcastBiases taking over your thinking? S3E3***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast, explores the impact of cognitive biases on decision-making, particularly in the context of road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. He explains four key biases: availability heuristic, anchoring bias, framing effect, and loss aversion, illustrating how these biases can lead to irrational choices that perpetuate unsafe conditions. The conversation also touches on the importance of understanding behavioural economics and social norms in addressing public infrastructure issues.
...2025-01-1714 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow thinking slow helps you make better decisions | S3E2***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast, explores the concepts of fast and slow thinking as introduced by psychologist Daniel Kahneman. He discusses how most of our daily decisions are made through fast thinking, which is often based on biases and habits. The importance of slow thinking is emphasized, particularly in making informed decisions and overcoming cognitive biases. The episode provides insights into how to transition from fast to slow thinking and the significance o...2025-01-1011 min
The OoruLabs PodcastFix prejudices and become smarter | S3E1***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast, introduces the concept of updating Bayesian priors, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking in the face of overwhelming information. He discusses base rate neglect and how it affects our judgments, particularly in the context of public safety and urban transport. The episode encourages listeners to broaden their understanding of issues and be open to changing their opinions based on new data.
-
Keywords2025-01-0312 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs deep knowledge uninteresting to urban citizens? | S2E50***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast and Susheel Nair, an intermittent co-host banter about the 99 episodes past and rant about the state of affairs. You can make out how our biases towards managing traffic congestion shows up :)
In this conversation, the host reflects on the journey of the podcast, discussing the complexities of urban society, the importance of active citizenship, and the interplay between government and market forces. Th...2024-12-1347 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCommunity Engagement: Overcoming Challenges Together | S2E489**Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast talks to Zibi Jamal of Whitefield Rising a new age residents welfare association on the pitfalls and success of civic participation in Bengaluru. We discuss the rise of Whitefields Rising and what active citizenship means for the cities of the future.
The conversation explores the evolution of civic engagement in Bangalore, focusing on the grassroots movement Whitefield Rising. It highlights the challenges f...2024-12-0659 min
The OoruLabs PodcastMaking footpaths great again | S2E48***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast talks to Arun Pai of Bangalore WALKS. He has a unique way of engaging with the footpaths of Bangalore, he runs on them and works with the civic authorities to fix it. In this episode he talks about why he does this and how he wants to take walking mainstream.
In this conversation, the speaker discusses the challenges of urban mobility in B...2024-11-291h 11
The OoruLabs PodcastIs PMAY and housing for all working? | S2E47***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast talks to housing expert Manikandan KP on how we can fix the housing problem in cities for the people who are being increasingly priced out. We think through whose job is it to provide housing and why we are unable to solve it once and for all.
This conversation delves into the complexities of housing in urban India, focusing on the challenges o...2024-11-2259 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow to quieten our cities? | S2E46***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast and Raj Dugar of civic group, C4C, delve into the pervasive issue of honking and noise pollution in urban India, exploring its psychological impacts, cultural roots, and the legal framework surrounding it. The discussion highlights the need for individual responsibility, community awareness, and systemic changes to foster a quieter, more peaceful urban environment.
-
Keywords
honking, noise pollution, mental health, u...2024-11-1546 min
The OoruLabs PodcastLearnings from a 4 decade old Commission on Urbanisation? | S2E45***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast talk to Jagan Shah Urban Expert and ex director of NIUA about the National Commission on Urbanisation setup almost 4 decades ago whose report was never made public. The report is quite revolutionary when it comes to its observations. We look back at some highlights from this commission.
This conversation delves into the historical context and ongoing challenges of urbanization in India, focusing o...2024-11-081h 02
The OoruLabs PodcastMistreating the marginalised is costing us all | S2E44***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast and Vinay Sreenivasa a researcher at Alternate Law Forum and a civic right activist, on the 68th anniversary of Karnataka State formation also called Kannada Rajyotsava, discuss issues of dignity, equity, agency and empowerment in cities. How cities may be stifling progress by disregarding marginalised instead of bringing them up by sharing commons and public facilities equitably.
The conversation explores the pressing i...2024-11-0146 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow adolescents experience the city | S2E43***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast speaks with Prerna Mehta of WRI India on redefining Public Spaces for adolescents.
The conversation explores the challenges and opportunities for adolescents in urban spaces, focusing on their needs, safety, and accessibility to public spaces. It highlights the importance of engaging youth in urban development and the role of community involvement in creating inclusive environments. The discussion also addresses the impact of C...2024-10-2545 min
The OoruLabs PodcastApathy lets down Pune | S2E42***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast speaks with civic activist from Pune Ar. Sarang Yadwadkar around the human caused follies leading to flooding like many other Indian cities. But its geography has a story to tell as well. Sarang unpacks the situation and the roadmap to sustainability in the city.
In this conversation, architect Sarang Yadavadkar discusses the pressing issue of urban flooding in Pune, highlighting the failures o...2024-10-1832 min
The OoruLabs PodcastNavigating the Complexities of Urbanization | S2E41***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast and Rajiv Prakash, Advisor Rainmatter Foundation have a free ranging conversation on cities, ecology, economy and systems. This episode reflects the kind of offline conversations I have been having around change making and the possible shifts we should be creating around us. These are the conversations the policy and development sector should be having more publicly.
The conversation explores the complex relationship b...2024-10-1159 min
The OoruLabs PodcastRedefining Safety for women in Indian Cities | S2E40***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, host of the podcast and Divya Narayanan, Executive Director of Jhatkaa discuss how friendly Indian cities are for women. The entire gamut of social, infrastructural, financial, political and personal issues come into play in how women navigate, live and consume the city.
This conversation delves into the multifaceted challenges women face in navigating urban spaces in India, highlighting the emotional burden, safety concerns, and the impact o...2024-10-0434 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow should we solve our waste problem? | S2E39***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks to Arun Murugesh of Saahas Zero waste on the seemingly insurmountable waste problem. From trying to understand the severity of the crisis to solving it with market participant and consumers, in this conversation we attempt to unravel this rubble.
In this conversation, Arun Murugesh from Sahas Zero Waste discusses the pressing issues surrounding waste management in India, emphasizing the scale of t...2024-09-2745 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy we are unable to get past greenwashing | S2E38***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks to Jenny Pinto, a filmmaker, story teller, environmentalist and green entrepreneur on her latest book for children, The Magical Everything and everything else we get wrong about climate change.
In this conversation, the speaker discusses the urgent need for a paradigm shift in education and societal values, particularly regarding climate change and sustainability. Emphasizing the importance of engaging children in understanding t...2024-09-2032 min
The OoruLabs PodcastBuilders and Buyers, not Government will drive built form | S2E37***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, a free ranging conversation between Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast and Sriram Kuchimanchi of Smarter Dharma explores the role of buildings, their contribution to our current problems and their role in the future of cities.
Buildings account for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. The potential to build sustainable buildings is crucial, especially considering the expected infrastructure growth in developing countries. The carbon f...2024-09-131h 02
The OoruLabs PodcastWill Nagara metered app on ONDC bring back street hailing autorickshaws in Bengaluru? | S2E36***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast talks to Niranjan Aradhya who, with guidance from transport expert Satyajit Arikuthram, is building a back to the future Nagara Metered Autorickshaw app on ONDC. They claim to bring back street hailing of autorickshaws which go by government compliant meters but also leveraging ONDC seller component for discovering customers all the while bringing back true agency to the driver. In this conversation we wade through the evolution o...2024-09-0654 min
The OoruLabs PodcastInefficient Bureaucracy, bad politics and horrible citizen choices | S2E35***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, a free ranging conversation between Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast and Susheel Nair leads them on a discovery of how widespread our current climate and natural crisis is. Betweeninefficient bureaucracy, bad politics and horrible citizens choices, how do we find a way out of this chakravyuh?
The conversation discusses the inefficiencies and challenges faced by the government in managing urban development and environmental sustainability. It highlights the n...2024-08-3033 min
The OoruLabs PodcastEnergy, Buildings, What else can cities do? | S2E34***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast talks to Madhav Pai, CEO, WRI india, on India’s road to net zero. The mind boggling amount of opportunities that exist for entrepreneurs and reforms that need to be done to get us there.
The conversation discusses the challenges and opportunities in achieving India's net-zero target by 2070. It emphasizes the need for renewable energy, new institutions, and governance to drive the tran...2024-08-2337 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy Urban biodiversity is still a lip service | S2E33***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
Did you know the disaster in Wayanad and other places like that have a strong link to people in urban areas? On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast and Siddarth Rao, an Ecologist and conservation biologist try to unravel the link and how urban dwellers are the key to keeping the ecosystem alive.
The conversation explores the interconnectedness between urban areas and wild spaces, emphasizing the importance of respecting a...2024-08-1648 min
The OoruLabs PodcastConstitutional validity of Greater Bengaluru Authority | S2E32***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast tries to understand from Vijayan Menon, the President of Citizens Action Forum why the recently proposed Greater Bengaluru Authority will not work. Vijayan lays out the case for a constitutionally valid and emergent approach which doesn’t need this shock and awe approach.
The conversation discusses the proposed creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the splitting of Bengaluru into multiple cit...2024-08-0956 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAutomation's Impact on Jobs and Cities | S2E31***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast asks Saurabh Chandra of Ati Motors, will robots and self driving cars take over our cities and our jobs? Check out why he think India will lag developments in automation even if there intent and talent.
The conversation explores the challenges and future of self-driving cars, automation, and the impact on jobs and cities. It discusses the progress and setbacks in the d...2024-08-0238 min
The OoruLabs PodcastDoes your city need a brand to be relevant? | S2E30***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast and Susheel Nair debate the need for branding the city and who gets to define this brand?
The conversation explores the concept of branding a city and the role of taglines in defining a city's identity. The speakers discuss the need for a tagline that encompasses the diverse characteristics and aspirations of a city like Bengaluru. They highlight the importance of public p...2024-07-2639 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWelfare of gig workers on aggregator platforms | S2E29***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks with Alok Prasanna Kumar of Vidhi legal on the Draft Karnataka platform based gig workers, social security and welfare bill that is to be tabled in the July 2024 Karnataka monsoon assembly session.
Draft Karnataka platform based gig workers, social security and welfare bill: https://ksuwssb.karnataka.gov.in/storage/pdf-files/draftnotification.pdf
The conversation discusses the ne...2024-07-191h 22
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat an Airport can teach our cities | S2E28***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks with Hari Marar, MD and CEO of Bengaluru International Airport Limited about how a 4000 acre township with an airport has managed to achieve LEED platinum level sustainability and what the rest of the country and the world can learn from them.
In this episode, Hari Marar, MD and CEO of Bengaluru International Airport Limited, discusses the importance of sustainability in the av...2024-07-1250 min
The OoruLabs PodcastBroken municipal governance pulling back our growth | S2E27***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks with Srikanth Narasimhan of Bengaluru Navanirmana Party about how despite knowing cities can be made or broken by municipal government, national politics lives rent free in our heads. How do we fix this?
The conversation focuses on the importance of local governance and citizen participation in improving the state of cities like Bengaluru. The speaker emphasizes that municipal governments, comprising elected co...2024-07-0540 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow to catalyse government action for cycling | S2E26***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast and Susheel Nair of Artand talk about cycling in the city and its nuances.
In this episode of the Ooru Labs podcast, Sushil and Satya discuss the importance of cycling as a solution to urban transportation issues in Bangalore. They highlight the need for infrastructure and policy changes to support cycling, including the creation of segregated cycle tracks and a connected network. T...2024-06-2847 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow India & Germany partnered for sustainable mobility | S2E25***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of the podcast speaks with Manjunath Sekhar of the German Development Cooperation - GIZ about the concept of Living Labs and the approach GIZ is taking in India. This is a part of the India Germany Green Urban Mobility Partnership Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with the lead agency in India being Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
...2024-06-2146 min
The OoruLabs PodcastResponding to Urban Complexity - Part 2 | S2E24***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs speaks with Arvind Balasubramaniam on complexity and wickedness of governance. They exchange thoughts with urban traffic and other issues as an anchor to understand complex systems. This episode explores how people can respond to the complexity.
The conversation explores the complexity of urban systems and the need for diverse mental models to understand and respond to complex problems. It delves into the concept o...2024-06-1436 min
The OoruLabs PodcastUnraveling Wicked Problems in Urban Governance - Part 1 | S2E23***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs speaks with Arvind Balasubramaniam on complexity and wickedness of governance. They exchange thoughts with urban traffic and other issues as an anchor to understand complex systems.
The conversation explores the concept of wicked problems in urban governance and the complexity of urban systems. It delves into the challenges of traffic congestion, the interrelated nature of wicked problems, and the values and interests at pl...2024-06-0734 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAnswering Youtube viewer comments | S2E22***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs and Susheel Nair of Artand address user comments on the recent episodes as a part pf the monthly ones roundup.
The conversation delves into the concept of freebies and public services, particularly focusing on the provision of free bus rides for women. It explores the distinction between private goods and public services, the impact of free transport on urban congestion, and the need f...2024-05-3136 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs Bengaluru Tunnel Road Project Worth It? | S2E21***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Rajkumar Dugar of citizens for citizens about the feasibility of the tunnel road project, the benefits and challenges.
The conversation discusses the proposed tunnel road project in Bengaluru and evaluates its worthiness. The current traffic situation in the area is analyzed, revealing that the average time taken to travel between the Hebbal flyover and Mekri Circle is only 7 to 9 minutes. The e...2024-05-2439 min
The OoruLabs PodcastFive point frameworks for managing traffic | S2E20***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Venkata Chunduru, Director at Arcadis IBI who provides traffic management solutions among other things.
The avoidable cost of traffic congestion in major Indian cities is 1.44 lakh crore, which is 50% more than the government's budget for education infrastructure. Solving traffic congestion is a challenging problem due to the nature of governance in cities. However, it is solvable by enabling people to navigate t...2024-05-1839 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat the free bus tickets did to women in Tamil Nadu | S2E19***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Sumana Narayan who worked on a report which documented the impact of the free bus scheme in Tamil Nadu while working at Citizen, consumer and civic action group. This is an absolutely eye opening interview. It opens my eyes to how women use the bus completely different from men. This is a must listen.
You can download the full report here h...2024-05-1155 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs it too late to fix the climate? | S2E18***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs and Susheel Nair of Artand discuss the heat wave sweeping across the country. What did we do wrong and where do we go from here?
The conversation discusses the current heatwave in Bengaluru and the factors contributing to it. It highlights the urban heat island effect caused by the city's infrastructure and consumerism. The speakers emphasize the need for citizens to take action i...2024-05-0443 min
The OoruLabs PodcastBengaluru shows the new way | S2E17***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Vishwanath S on the new way of water management that the rest of the cities in India can adopt. Nothing like a crisis to change the approach and try new things.
The conversation discusses the water situation in Devanalli, a town in Bengaluru, and how wastewater treatment can address water scarcity. The town was dependent on deep bore wells for water, b...2024-04-2720 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCan Indian Railways power the urban growth? | S2E16***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Sharif Qamar of The Energy and Resources Institute, TERI on Indian Railways, it progress and potential opportunities for becoming a transportation powerhouse.
The conversation discusses the challenges and potential reforms needed for the Indian Railways to play a larger role in the country's economic growth and achieve its net-zero commitments. It explores the profitability of the freight segment compared to the p...2024-04-2053 min
The OoruLabs Podcast95% of real estate left out of FAR amendment | S2E15***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran, Host of OoruLabs talks to Anjali Karol Mohan, Urban Planner and Partner, Integrated Design on how the recent FAR amendment bill by the Karnataka Government will yield very little compared to the potential dramatic improvements if could have brought to the cities in the state.
The conversation discusses the recent amendment to the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, which allows developers to obtain additional floor a...2024-04-1333 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy our biases might be hindering progress | Monthly ones - S2E14***Support the podcast, become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCksnReFEAAK47cTVZBVQJrw/join
On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran and Susheel Nair are back on their Monthly ones episode for mango people. With election season upon us, how should urban people choose?
The conversation discusses the importance of local governance and the need for capable and efficient politicians. It emphasizes the role of citizens in pushing for local governments and holding politicians accountable. The conversation also highlights the need for quality candidates who can understand a...2024-04-0638 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWho should be setting price for taxis, autorickshaws, water tankers etc | S2E13On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran speaks with Anupam Manur of Takshashila Institution on government setting the prices of various goods and services.
The conversation discusses the issue of price control in transportation and the effectiveness of government intervention. It explores the role of price in affordability and the complexity of pricing in transportation. The importance of price as an incentive and signal is highlighted, emphasizing the fairness of the pricing system. The consequences of government price fixing and the lack of competition in transportation are examined. The government's role in...2024-03-3058 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs it possible to cycle safely in Indian cities? | S2E12On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran speaks with Bicycle Mayors of
Chennai - Felix John
Hyderabad - Santana Selvan
Pimpri-Chinchwad - Ashik Jain
New Delhi - Dalip Sabharwal
Guwahati - Arshel Akhter
The conversation discusses the tragic incidents of cyclists and pedestrians being hit by vehicles in different cities across India. It highlights the need for a collective effort to improve road safety and reduce accidents. The participants also discuss the concept of victim shaming and the importance of holding authorities accountable for ensuring s...2024-03-231h 26
The OoruLabs PodcastHow to get results without government | S2E11On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast, Sathya Sankaran quizzes civic activist and resident of Brookefields layout in the IT Hub of Bengaluru Arvind on the transformation in his neighbourhood.
The conversation explores the state of infrastructure in Bangalore and the challenges faced by the community. It highlights the need for active citizenship and taking matters into our own hands to improve the living conditions. The chapters cover topics such as community-led approaches, engaging with the government, challenges and solutions, limitations of government involvement, and the importance of design and quality control. This conversation explores the concept...2024-03-1653 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy Government struggles to get you infrastructure and services | S2E4On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast,
Citizens in large agglomerations are at their wits end trying to get relief from disorganised civic agencies across the country. Their only recourse is their political representatives who don’t seem to necessarily have a permanent fix, they appease the immediate requests but fail to fix things for the long haul. What are their incentives? Many cities across the country for example, Bengaluru, don’t have a city government? Why don’t we have it? Do our politicians really care?
Sathya Sankaran brains...2024-01-271h 06
The OoruLabs PodcastPermanent fix to urban traffic jams | S2E2On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban issues podcast,
Phoenix Mall of Asia, Mantri Mall, Orion Mall, Lulu Mall, IKEA all fell prey to traffic congestion when they opened. This is just in one half of Bengaluru. Why does it repeat without fail in many cities all across India? Don’t we learn anything at all? Here is a complete breakdown of the issue and the possible the solutions. Sathya Sankaran, Urban Communicator and host of the OoruLabs podcast brings in Prof Ashish Verma of IISc to discuss this issue.
Stock vid...2024-01-1338 min
The OoruLabs PodcastThe big fight: Indian Railways vs Bengaluru Suburban Railway | S2E1On, OoruLabs, India's premier urban affairs podcast,
Raj Kumar Dugar, civic activist and founder of c4c, and Sathya Sankaran discuss how Indian railways is killing state projects & hindering progress. In one of the worst case of bureaucratic oneupmanship and abuse of coercive power and big brotherly attitudes, you will see how the Indian Railways is scuttling a project despite holding a 49% stake in it. The Bengaluru Suburban Rail project was approved after 12 years of struggle, it is now being killed by one of its own parents, the Indian Railways. This in the crown...2024-01-0639 min
The OoruLabs PodcastFuture of citizenship and politics in citiesFeaturing Sathya Sankaran and Susheel Nair. On the season ending episode of OoruLabs, India's premiere Urban issues podcast we have a new guest who helps us with some creatives, new intro, outro and helps us decide if we need to do more of this.
———
Listen to other video-pods on this topic and subscribe to the channel
Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/6EYcxIPGW0UQvmkk67Ox0x?si=efbf1c2c47d449be
Apple Podcasts link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oorulabs-podcast/id1682407685
YouTube link: YouTube.com/@oorulabs
Website: https://podcast.oorulabs.com
Join this WhatsApp community to receiv...2023-12-3030 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow can cities curb their car-thusiasm? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 46Chris Bruntlett is the author of two books along with Melissa Bruntlett, "Curbing Traffic" and "Building The Cycling City". He lays out the case for how reducing the dependence on cars can increase urban vitality and liveability for human beings, based on the dutch blueprint and his observations across many countries.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems in their own way.
This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability wit...2023-12-231h 03
The OoruLabs PodcastWhich is India’s best future ready city? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 45Where does your city rank in being prepared for the future? Srikanth Vishwanathan and VR Vachana break down the ten instruments of change that holds back development of our cities in the Annual Survey of India's City Systems. They suggest action items in the short and medium term that can help us achieve good systems in cities.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems in their own way.
This is you...2023-12-161h 00
The OoruLabs PodcastHow long before Delhi can breathe clean air? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 44Amit Bhatt, Managing Director in India for the International Council on Clean Transportation lays down the challenges in reducing our dependence on combustion for transportation and energy needs in our cities. Are cities other than Delhi really as clean as they claim to be? Are all the COP committments really percolating down to action on the ground? What are the complexities in climate change governance that is preventing our transition away from combustion?
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are wo...2023-12-0953 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs good governance a pipe dream? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 43An Alumni of IIM Bangalore apart from her rewarding career at the executive levels of many corporates in the city Revathy Ashok is the CEO of Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) a non-partisan citizen's group that aims to improve governance in Bengaluru and to enhance the quality of life of every Bengalurean. B.PAC is specifically targeting good governance practices, integrity and transparency in all arms of the government, improving the quality of infrastructure in the city and identification as well as support of strong candidates for public office at all levels with the B.CLIP program.
2023-12-021h 00
The OoruLabs PodcastWhat is Brand Bengaluru? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 42Ravichander describes himself as the patron saint of lost causes, and yet he has been instrumental in driving India’s first self assessment scheme for property taxes, India’s first quality road contracting and specification model TenderSURE and recommendations for restructuring Bengaluru city governance. In his current avatar of Brand Bengaluru championing the image of Bengaluru in the eyes of everyone else in the country.
In this episode we talk at length about what this means. He also Unboxes Bengaluru's newest Habba, Unboxing Bengaluru Habba coming up between 1st & 11th of December.
2023-11-2557 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAre NGO’s effective in creating sustainable cities? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 41Ranjit Gadgil of Parisar, Pune helps us understand the effectiveness and the journey of civic activisim in effecting change in the cities towards environmental sustainability. Being an early mover in this space from Pune the learnings in the space is immense.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems in their own way.
This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
Stock video and picture credits to various contributors on Pexels, Pixabay, Mix...2023-11-181h 01
The OoruLabs PodcastWill congestion charging work in India? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 40Shreya Gadepalli comes back on the show to clearly explain how congestion pricing or road pricing works, dispel the myths, how parking management and the bus can be an integral part of managing throughput on our roads. We talk bus and the future of road transport corporations as well.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems in their own way.
This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
Stock video and pic...2023-11-1157 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWill our cities plunge into darkness? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 39Are we ready for the increase in energy intensity from a growing economy and yet be able to transition to clean energy? Deepak Sriram Krishnan, Associate Director for WRI India's Energy Program, walks us through the challenges in entire power system from producer, distributor to consumer. At WRI he also leads work on Clean Energy Initiatives (Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency) for different consumer categories; Clean Energy Transitions and Water-Energy nexus.
Prior to this, he worked with the energy consulting practices of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte. He is a certified Energy Risk Professional. He is an electrical engineering graduate...2023-11-041h 06
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy is the government slow? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 38From software to civil society to managing the Chennai Smart City as its CEO, Raj Cherubal has seen it all. He holds an MS in Physics from the University of Louisville and an MS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. As an “outsider” in the government trying to bring fresh perspectives, I got him on the show to tell us the inside story. How the government “works” for the citizen. Its structure complexity and the inertia all of this imposes.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to h...2023-10-281h 15
The OoruLabs PodcastCan the Knowledge economy create better cities? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 37Ashwin Mahesh is an Urbanist, Scientist, Journalist, Politician and a Social Technologist. Watch him discuss the state of education from primary to vocational, its impact on cities and the economy. Insights into what is possible and how institutions and government education regulators are struggling to cope with the demands of the marketplace for jobs.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems in their own way.
This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran...2023-10-2159 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCan apartment complexes create sustainable cities? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 36With deteriorating quality of services by city governments, areas with apartment complexes tend to disproportionately suffer because of the density of people. Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF) is one of a kind collectivisation of more than 1250 apartment owners associations giving themselves bargaining power with city authorities. How have they used their power? Are such dense settlements a boon or bane to the city? We discuss these issues in todays episode with Vikram Rai who is the serving secretary of BAF.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from pe...2023-10-1456 min
The OoruLabs PodcastDoes your neighbourhood matter? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 35Meera K, is an Ashoka Fellow and was earlier a Knight Fellow at the International Centre for Journalists, runs Citizen Matters an online portal that aggregates citizen stories. With her experience in civic activism, open data and trying to get people to contribute to civic affairs, she unravels how we have changed as a society in talking about our urban issues.
Welcome to another episode of the OoruLabs podcast from Bengaluru.
Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve the...2023-10-0752 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs India ready for clean transportation? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 34Pawan Mulukutla, Director of Integrated Transport, Electric Mobility & Hydrogen, WRI India, talks about the country's readiness to make the transition to clean fuels. While there is a market momentum in electric mobility, there are challenges as well. We explore the industry and product readiness in hydrogen and biofuels as well.
Welcome to another episode of the OoruLabs podcast from Bengaluru. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran.
Stock video credits to various contributors on Pexels, Pixabay and Mixkit. Additional footage sourced from Nihar Thakkar, First p...2023-09-3051 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCan cities fix the jobs shortage? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 3318 million people turn 18 each year in India and we have over a 100 million people surplus in agriculture. Unless we create 20 million new jobs each year, India’s dream of a demographic dividend could easily turn into a nightmare! This is the title of the 20 million jobs project that Sridhar Krishna has been driving. He is a Senior Scholar at the Takshashila Institution and leads the 20 Million Jobs project. He graduated from BITS, Pilani and has an MBA from SP Jain, Mumbai. He works with startups helping them scale and with a civil society organisation on judicial reform. Till recently, he...2023-09-2350 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWhere is the money in our cities going? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 32Srikanth Vishwanathan, Chief Executive Officer of Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy unpacks city finances. Why is infrastructure in our cities failing? Are cities mismanaging the finances? Are they unable to tap the right sources of funding? What is the impact of a dysfunctional city finance corporation? What are the reforms in municipal finances?
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability wi...2023-09-161h 06
The OoruLabs PodcastWhy are our cities dirty? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 31Sandhya Narayanan of Solid Waste Management Round Table unpacks the biggest problem plaguing our cities today: Trash, Litter, Waste. She lays blame squarely where it belong while walking us through the tremendous progress made over the past decade and the work that remains to be done.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
Stock video credits to...2023-09-091h 00
The OoruLabs PodcastIs there remedy for citizen complaints? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 30Suryaprakash from Daksh Legal puts on a systems thinking hat to help us navigate the problems in judicial and non-judicial remedial landscape for civic apathy and low trust in our society. In a freewheeling discussion we look our ability to seek relief in the current political, bureaucratic and judicial system and our ability to seek relief in the appropriate forum. Wether its incomplete flyovers or concepts like tunnel roads or just bad footpath and roads, is there a way out to get proper services from the government?
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever...2023-09-0255 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs the newspaper dead? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 29asheed Kappan was the civic affairs editor at Deccan Herald. an independent multi-media journalist, he has over 28 years of journalistic experience in The Times of India, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The News Laundry, The Federal and The Probe. He has written hundreds of articles around urban issues especially mobility. He is also the CoFounder of Art Bengaluru Collective and Kappansky media.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is...2023-08-2648 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAre our urban citizens healthy? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 28Shama Karkal speaks to OoruLabs about healthy cities. Why how we build our cities and how we live matters greatly to our individual and collective health.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
Stock video and picture credits to respective contributors from MOD foundation, DULT Church Street First project, Mixkit, Pixabay, Pexel, Creative Commons on the web...2023-08-1949 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAre we designing the cities wrong? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 27Naresh Narasimhan talks to us about the learnings from trying to design public spaces in the city. How different is it from building buildings? We challenge our ideas of urban design projects. It pays for us to know this before the next big idea is thrown in the ring.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
St...2023-08-1258 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow do we achieve liveability in cities? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 26In an amazingly insightful conversation, Vinayak Bharne dives deep into the complex structures that underpin the definition of a liveable city. From cultural, informal nature of the cities to the role real estate developers and structural policies at play, we wrangle with the line we need to draw between these two extremes.
“The answer dear friend is blowing in the wind.” - Bob Dylan
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solv...2023-08-051h 20
The OoruLabs PodcastIndian cyclist in Tour de France? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 25Bikey Venky talks to us about how India can produce top class cyclist who can compete in events like the Tour de France or Giro de Italia, which is considered the top events in cycling. What are the attitudes and misconceptions around cycling. What is scale, how do we define scale, how do we create leagues and how all this ties down to culture of cycling. How do we compare against countries in Europe like Netherlands or Belgium. Of course we talk about how all this rubs off on urban cycling and transform cities.
...2023-07-2951 min
The OoruLabs PodcastShould Bengaluru be split? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 24So those are my schemes
And these are my plans
Hot tips for the boys
Fresh news from the force
When it's all mixed up
Better break it down
-Break it down again, Tears for fears
As a member of the Bengaluru Restructuring Committee V Ravichandar has cowritten a report that might change the face of Bengaluru as we know it. The reports have been followed up with the Bengaluru Governance Bill which if implemented by the Government of Karnataka can give wings to the r...2023-07-221h 01
The OoruLabs PodcastHow to stop cities from drowning? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 23And all the love and all the love in the world
Won't stop the rain from falling, waste seeping underground
-Break it down again, Tears for fears
Cities are drowning all across the country. S Vishwanath, Popularly known as Zenrainman, tells us why. How do we stop this deluge? He lays bare the gaps in our existing water management and governance strategy. Listen in to find out more.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get...2023-07-1551 min
The OoruLabs PodcastChina controlling Indian EV market? | OoruLabs Talking Heads podcast Episode 22How do we get out of the Chinese stranglehold on the Indian EV market? What does it take for innovators in the EV space to succeed? What are the frictions in the space that suppliers can solve for the OEM’s? Is Make in India possible? This and more from Vivek Sharanappa of BuyMyEV a startup making electric two wheelers.
Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your...2023-07-0850 min
The OoruLabs PodcastCity’s future inscribed on a stone | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 21Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
In this episode Udaya Kumar PL walks us through how the contemporary city was before you knew it, all documented on stones. These inscription stones can help enrich our understanding of how cities evolve and how the governed and the governors move the trajectory of how we got he...2023-07-011h 26
The OoruLabs PodcastWho is a Bicycle Mayor? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 20Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast (https://podcast.oorulabs.com). Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathyasankaran/)
In this episode, Bicycle Mayor Network Co-ordinator from BYCS, Netherlands, Simon Alvarez Belon speaks about the change maker network for cycling that has swept across many countries. He delves into who is a Bicycle Mayor, and the impact their work has been hav...2023-06-2447 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWill the bicycle survive the future? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 19Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Sathya Sankaran and Sonal Kulkarni discuss the future of cycling as a commuting vehicle in cities with Professor Ruth Oldenziel. They delve into the history of the automobile industry and its impact on urban planning, as well as the factors needed for successful cycling infrastructure. Listen in to le...2023-06-1750 min
The OoruLabs PodcastShould cities abandon Masterplans? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 18Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
In this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Dr. Anjali Karol Mohan discusses the flaws in the urban planning process and the need for a bottom-up approach to fix the abysmal implementation rates. She explains how the current top-down approach by the Bangalore Development Authority is inadequate and how a comprehensive development plan is necessary. She emph...2023-06-101h 05
The OoruLabs PodcastWorld Bicycle Day special | #OoruLabs Commuter Series #podcast Episode 02Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
In this Commuter Series, World Bicycle Day special episode of the OoruLabs podcast from Bengaluru, three commuters, Shilpi Sahu, Tandava Popuri, and Karthik Ranganathan, share their experiences of commuting to work by bicycle in Bengaluru. In a freewheeling conversation covering Individual, Corporate and Government contributions, they discuss the benefits and challenges of cy...2023-06-021h 03
The OoruLabs PodcastDoes size matter for cities? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 17Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav KodolikarIn this episode of the OoruLabs podcast, Alok Prasanna from the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy talks to Sathya Sankaran about the challenges of urban governance in India's megacities. They discuss the history of municipal governance, the need for effective ward committees, and the limitations of the current system. Prasanna highlights the importance of...2023-05-2754 min
The OoruLabs PodcastThe problem with parking! | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 16Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
Discover the root causes of parking problems in cities and how to solve them in this episode of the OoruLabs podcast. Hear from Dr. Paul Barter, an adjunct professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and is the host of the Reinventing parking podcast, as he discusses how the mi...2023-05-201h 01
The OoruLabs PodcastWill shared micro-mobility survive? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 15Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
This episode is with Amit Gupta the CEO of one of India’s leading shared micro-mobility fleet operator. He talks about the current state of micro-mobility in India. How the public transport organisations are not doing enough. Yulu's journey and philosophy. He reveals why bicycle sharing failed for Yulu.
...2023-05-1354 min
The OoruLabs PodcastAre we measuring Mobility right? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 14Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
In this episode Roshan Toshniwal of Ola Mobility Institute talks about how metrics used to measure mobility are yet to be standardised. The challenges in data collection measurement and reporting of qualitative metrics are next to non existent. In the last week of April he released the Ease of Moving index he wo...2023-05-0654 min
The OoruLabs PodcastDoes governance decentralisation work? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 13Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
This episode is with Srinivas Alavilli who talks about how ward level decentralised ways of working can solve issues. Challenges and opportunities in making decentralisation work. For more than a decade he has been a change maker in the Bengaluru civic and political scene. Been a part of many citizen movements and ex...2023-04-2959 min
The OoruLabs PodcastPolicy education and public problem solving | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 12Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar.
In this podcast Dr Ashwin Mahesh talks to us about public problem solving and the approach one should take to begin the journey. He also throws light on challenges within the interplay of state market and society in providing effective solutions. You can view his writings and thoughts at www.ashwinmahesh.in
...2023-04-2259 min
The OoruLabs PodcastSuburban Rail sidelined? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 11Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
In this podcast is Sanjeev Dymannavar. He played an instrumental role in the Namma Railu campaign for more than 12 years to bring Suburban Rail to Bengaluru. He was also awarded the Namma Bengaluru citizen of the year for his persistence in this campaign.
Listen to...2023-04-1637 min
The OoruLabs PodcastHow smart are our cities? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 10Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran
In this podcast is Venugopal AV. As a part of ITDP, he has been supporting the National Smart Cities Mission, MoHUA for the India Cycles4Change and Streets4People Challenges since June 2020. He has been leading the coordination team from ITDP India for both the Challenges. Through these initiatives, ITDP India has been guiding over 100 ci...2023-04-0742 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs ride sharing in trouble? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 09Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar
In this podcast we’ll be speaking with Shahed Hashmi, a Public Policy and Corporate Affairs professional who has spent the past few years in fast-growing shared mobility and last mile delivery startups.
Listen to other video-pods on this topic and subscribe to the channel
Spotify link: podcasters.spoti...2023-04-0139 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs this the end of App Aggregators? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 08Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. Ever complained how bad our cities are? How bad your commute is? You’ll get to hear from people who are working to solve these problems. This is your weekly soapbox for Urban Sustainability with Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar.
In this podcast we’ll be speaking with Satya Arikuthram, a transport expert who has worked with firms like Atkins in the UK and was the chief technical advisor at DULT. He is now an independent consultant and has worked on the Namma Yatri app rollout with Auto drivers in Bengaluru.
Listen t...2023-03-2656 min
The OoruLabs PodcastWill Bicycle Sharing work in India? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 07Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. The soapbox for Urban Sustainability. We will check out hot topics, trending news in the areas of urban transport, waste, energy, water, the new digital economy and its implications for urban living.
Arjit Soni (https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjitsoni/) runs a bootstrapped Public Bicycle Sharing System called MYBYK across 6 cities in India.
Sathya Sankaran https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathyasankaran/
Knerav Kodolikar https://www.linkedin.com/in/knerav-kodolikar-2a620517a/
Listen to other video-pods on this to...2023-03-1855 min
The OoruLabs PodcastIs there an e-bus revolution in India? | #OoruLabs Talking Heads #podcast Episode 06Welcome to the OoruLabs podcast. The soapbox for Urban Sustainability. We will check out hot topics, trending news in the areas of urban transport, waste, energy, water, the new digital economy and its implications for urban living.
In this OoruLabs Episode of Talking Heads, Sathya Sankaran and Knerav Kodolikar speak with Ravi Gadepalli on the India e-bus story.
Sathya Sankaran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sathyasankaran/
Knerav Kodolikar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knerav-kodolikar-2a620517a/
Ravi Gadepalli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravigadepalli
E-bus procurement report: https://www.conve...2023-03-1254 min