Shooting, but in the dark ?

Beijing has set goals for being more public transport dependent by 2015.

This goal-setting is what I think needs a serious rethink in urban plans. Delhi's trying to improve infrastructure so more and more cars can drive longer distances. Bangalore is - well - executing fast and nicely on a tonne of bandaids without any apparent set of goals and directions - at least not the right ones.

What would I love to see Bangalore shoot for ? Let's say, by 2015....
(These aren't calculated numbers, but more to emphasize the kind of goals we need to shoot for)
  • 25% lesser distance travelled in private cars
  • 30% increase in trips on cycles
  • 50% more commutes by public transport. Integrated ticketing for trains/buses
  • >50% people need to travel <10>
  • Traffic free city core - except for public EVs, cycles, train
  • 25% reduction is landfill-waste (70% is organic, we can try segregating)
  • Revival/addition of raja kaluves for interconnecting lakes that formed a natural drainage chain
  • 30% water needs met through rainwater harvesting
  • 40% reduction in number of borewells
  • At least 10 recharge wells per sq km for reviving the water table
  • Revival of 15 lakes
  • 25% increase in tree cover, addition of at least 10 "mini forests" inside city limits
  • 10% electricity through solar/wind sources
There are ways to achieve each of those (and more such goals). Government initiative, legislation, citizen participation, activism, corporate CSR and incentives - there are many tools. But they will yield results if there is first a consensus on a set of goals that is persisted with, and against which "development" is frequently measured. At the moment, its the actions themselves that are considered good enough for a government showcasing itself as a development friendly one. The thrust and direction of the development is immaterial, and often harmful in the medium or long term without any goals driving the activity.

Edit: @sids says "Without such goals, development is self perpetuating". Well put!

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