Varanasi, the ancient city of Kashi, is pioneering a new era of urban management.
Five global teams are now piloting their innovative crowd-management solutions, funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge. This initiative, a collaboration with the City of Varanasi, Challenge Works, and the World Resources Institute (WRI), aims to enhance safety and accessibility for millions of residents and pilgrims.
The five finalists transforming the urban fabric of Varanasi:
Arcadis, a leader in sustainable design, presents SANKALP. This ecosystem uses real-time data and AI to shift from reactive to proactive crowd management, ensuring safe and efficient movement.
CITYDATA, Inc. introduces CityFlow. This cloud-based solution leverages big data and generative AI for real-time crowd measurement and analysis, offering actionable insights without new hardware.
VOGIC AI proposes Behtar-Way. This AI-powered platform provides hyperlocal, community-first pedestrian navigation, guiding citizens through safer routes and giving officials real-time intelligence.
Prameya Consulting Private Limited offers Nayichaal. This “phygital” AI ecosystem combines a chatbot, navigation app, and wayfinding signage to improve mobility, inclusivity, and safety.
The Urbanizer presents Jan Jatra. This people-first solution blends local insights with color-coded wayfinding and dynamic digital signage to improve navigation and safety with a human-centric approach.
Voices from the city and beyond:
“Varanasi is setting a global example,” states Akshat Verma, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Varanasi Smart City. “These finalists are enhancing safety and accessibility while safeguarding the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kashi.”
Pras Ganesh, Executive Program Director, Toyota Mobility Foundation, finds the journey inspiring. “These finalists stood out for their creative, practical, and contextual approaches. We’re excited to see their solutions implemented.”
Avinash Dubedi, Head of Sustainable Cities and Transport at WRI, notes that Varanasi is “fast emerging as a pioneer in sustainable mobility.” He adds that the solutions “reimagine how people can move through the city with dignity, safety, and ease.”
Kathy Nothstine, Director of Cities and Societies at Challenge Works, highlights Varanasi’s leadership. “The finalist teams reflect the best of collaborative, interdisciplinary innovation, and their work will transform how we think about movement.”
Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, reiterates his company’s commitment. “We are truly inspired by the commitment and ingenuity of the five finalists,” he says. “Their innovations have the potential to transform historic cities and set new global standards.”