The CPPR Centre for Urban Studies (CUS) focuses on urbanisation patterns and trends in aspects such as public space, urban mobility, infrastructure, technology, livelihood and citizenship. The centre aims to understand the contestation of space by different socio-economic groups and addresses the multiple realities that exist within a city. It also aims to meet the challenges of urban development by recommending better practices and innovative policy changes. This is done through the use of primary and secondary quantitative data, to support qualitative policy suggestions. CUS aims to work with public and private entities to ensure sustainability through shared ownership.

Advisors

Raj Cherubal

Raj Cherubal is the CEO, Chennai Smart City Limited. He is also Director-Projects for Chennai City Connect (CCC). At CCC, he has facilitated various projects on traffic, sustainable transportation and urban planning focused on pedestrians and pedestrianisation, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and integrated, multi-modal public transportation, sustainable solid waste management, restoration of urban water bodies, sustainable financing of urban infrastructure, redevelopment of business district and regional planning.

He has written and worked to promote decentralisation and good urban governance. Also to promote economic freedom for entrepreneurs, especially poor like street vendors and others in the informal sector and for their recognition as profit seeking entrepreneurs. He holds an MS in Physics from the University of Louisville and an MS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has worked in the software industry in areas like computational physics, visualisation, telecom and finance.

Susan Zielinski

Susan Zielinski is former Managing Director of Sustainable Mobility & Accessibility Research & Transformation (SMART), which is a project of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

She co-founded and directed Moving the Economy (MTE), a Canada-wide ‘link tank’ that works to catalyse and support sustainable urban transportation innovation as well as New Mobility industry development, an integrated industry approach developed at MTE. She has worked for over 15 years developing and leading transportation and liveability policies and initiatives.


See The Posts

May 18, 2020

What the Kerala government can do to revive inter-state bus service sector

Aiswarya Krishnan For many people, bus travel is the go-to option for last minute inter-state travel. But with the spread of coronavirus resulting in the national lockdown, the inter-state bus service sector is caught between a rock and hard place. […]
May 18, 2020

Preference for private vehicles may put pressure on Kochi traffic

CPPR Chairman Dr D Dhanuraj comments in a news article published in The New Indian Express on the increase in usage of private vehicles once the lockdown is over. He says “Public transport will be rarely used after lockdown. Since […]
May 15, 2020

Is “Silver Line” a Pipe Dream or Silver Lining for Kerala?

Praseeda Mukundan and Aiswarya Krishnan One of the most ambitious projects of the State of Kerala, the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Semi High Speed Rail, also known as the Silver Line project, is likely to be considered and approved by the Cabinet in […]
May 12, 2020

Solid Waste Management in Kochi: No Solution to the Age-old Problem?

Lt Col Anil Raj On March 7, 2020, The Hindu newspaper reported that the State Government had issued an order entrusting the Local Self Government Department with the responsibility of handling the legacy waste at Brahmapuram because it felt that […]
May 11, 2020

Kochi – Kozhikode in One and a half hours: Is Kerala ready for semi-high speed rail project?

One of the most ambitious projects in Kerala, the Thiruvananthapuram – Kasaragod Semi High Speed Rail is likely to be considered and approved by the cabinet in the coming days. In this context, Praseeda Mukundan, Senior Research Associate and Aiswarya […]
April 18, 2020

Monsoon woes likely for Kochi as flood mitigation measures remain incomplete

CPPR Chairman Dr D Dhanuraj comments in a article published in The News Minute related to Operation Breakthrough, a project to tackle Kochi’s urban flooding. He says Kochi’s urbanisation and unscientific construction, including the drainage system, is the basic reason […]
April 17, 2020

It’s time to reboot Kochi

CPPR Chairman Dr D Dhanuraj comments in a article published in The New Indian Express. The pandemic-induced lockdown has proved to be a boon for nature with clearer skies, lower levels of air pollution and animals with a free rein. […]
April 17, 2020

Lockdown: KMRL suspends Metro services till May 3

CPPR Chairman Dr D Dhanuraj comments in a article published in The Times of India Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has suspended Metro services after the Centre extended the lockdown till May 3. The Metro agency said that all services […]
March 11, 2020

Elaboration of a Sustainable Public Transport and IPT Scenario for Puducherry Agglomeration

Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) is a consultant for the study on “Elaboration of a Sustainable Public Transport and IPT Scenario for Puducherry Agglomeration”. The project is initiated by the Transport Department of Puducherry Government with the support of AFD […]