Kashi Steps into the Future: Global Innovators to Transform Crowd Flow in Varanasi’s Old City
Varanasi—India’s eternal holy city of ghats, temples and shrines—is embarking on an ambitious journey of providing a marriage between its ancient ways with the needs of a modern city. The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has announced the five finalists of its $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge to reimagine the mobility for the millions of residents, pilgrims, and tourists who traverse the timeless, winding streets of Varanasi.
Kashi experiences millions of visitors from around India and the many visitors from around the world each year who are attracted to the city’s spiritual essence, heritage architecture, and lively riverfront. Through this ease of access and unprecedented popularity, it is critically important to support the safety, equity, and quality of their experience and the safety of the many who walk the narrow lanes and pilgrimage paths of the city.
In collaboration with the City of Varanasi, Challenge Works, and the World Resources Institute, TMF is bringing together visionary thinkers from around the globe. Their mission: to ease congestion, guide visitors smoothly through the city, and preserve Kashi’s unique character for future generations.
From an initial pool of global applicants, ten semi-finalists were invited to refine their concepts. Following a rigorous evaluation, five have now been selected as finalists, each receiving $130,000 to pilot their solutions directly in Varanasi’s Old City.
The Finalists Innovating Varanasi, India
- Arcadis – SANKALP: An interconnected suite of smart technology solutions leveraging real-time data, mobile applications, and advanced simulations to enable proactive management of crowd behaviors and ensure orderly and safe movement for pilgrims and tourists.
- CITYDATA, Inc. – CityFlow: A cloud-based platform leveraging big data, computer vision, and AI technology to capture and manage crowd movement in real-time, with no need for any further physical infrastructure.
- VOGIC AI – Behtar-Way: India’s first AI-powered, community-first pedestrian navigation app, offering safer alternative routes while giving authorities live updates on crowd patterns.
- Prameya Consulting – Nayichaal: A “phygital” blend of digital navigation, wayfinding signage, chatbots, and mobility dashboards to make the city more inclusive and visitor-friendly.
- The Urbanizer – Jan Jatra: A people-first approach combining local insights, colour-coded pathways, and dynamic signage to enhance safety and orientation for both pilgrims and tourists.
A Model for Heritage Cities Worldwide
City leaders and project partners believe Varanasi’s efforts could inspire other heritage-rich destinations. Akshat Verma, IAS, Municipal Commissioner and CEO of Varanasi Smart City, said:
“These five outstanding finalists are enhancing safety and accessibility while safeguarding the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kashi. Varanasi is setting a global example for how tradition and technology can co-exist.”
Pras Ganesh, Executive Program Director at TMF, noted that these solutions are designed not just for convenience but for empathy, keeping in mind the needs of locals, elderly pilgrims, and visitors with special needs.
Residents and visitors will hopefully notice an altered Varanasi as the projects enter their implementation phase–a Varanasi where the heritage charm of the streets meets world-class crowd management. The narrow streets that were difficult to navigate during peak pilgrimage season may become easier, safer, and nicer for everyone.
By fusing modern mobility intelligence with centuries-old cultural traditions, Kashi is proving that even the world’s oldest cities can be leaders in innovation—welcoming the future while honouring the past.
#SmartCity#UrbanSolutions#SmartTourism#toyotabharat
#moderntourismindia#printpublication #printmagazine
