Masters thesis — Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (Nagpur), 2024. Full text: https://archive.org/details/sgng.19267-sustainable-mobility-and-pedestrian-plan-for-pilgrimage-tourism-i
Pilgrimage cities across India face the same collision — sacred heritage versus unregulated tourism growth; Vrindavan is the worked example of planning for both at once.
Vrindavan's pilgrimage economy is choking on its own traffic — millions of devotees a year, chronic congestion, pollution, and erosion of the city's spiritual ambiance; the thesis proposes a heritage-first mobility model: pedestrian-only temple precincts, electric shuttles, expanded e-rickshaw networks, smart mobility hubs, cycle tracks, Yamuna ghat restoration, and eco-sensitive zoning.
Why it matters
Pilgrimage cities across India face the same collision — sacred heritage versus unregulated tourism growth; Vrindavan is the worked example of planning for both at once.
Use when: Plan for the pilgrim, not just the vehicle — the fix for a heritage city's congestion starts with pedestrian precincts and last-mile access, not wider roads.
