Fixing motorisation: The logics of infrastructure solutionism in Bengaluru

Sreelakshmi Ramachandran, Apoorva Rathod, Jacob Baby, Yogi Joseph and Govind Gopakumar
Additional contact information
Sreelakshmi Ramachandran: Concordia University, Canada
Apoorva Rathod: Concordia University, Canada
Jacob Baby: Concordia University, Canada
Yogi Joseph: Concordia University, Canada
Govind Gopakumar: Concordia University, Canada

Urban Studies, 2025, vol. 62, issue 9, 1731-1749

Abstract: Cities often deploy infrastructure-based solutions to tackle problems such as congestion caused by increasing motorisation rates. Such solutions include the introduction of complete streets or improved public transit systems. However, these solutions are often viewed as ‘quick fixes’ that are expected to resolve issues with ease. This article examines this phenomenon, which we call infrastructure solutionism, through two case studies in Bengaluru, India – re-shaping public transportation to attract car users through demand management, and redesigning major streets to accommodate varied users through parcelling. Through these case studies, it becomes evident that infrastructure solutions did not address the problems caused due to motorisation. Building upon the literature on technological solutionism in Science and Technology Studies, this article unpacks rationalities of infrastructure solutionism by examining material, valuational and expectational commitments mobilised through each case, and suggests that such solutions appear to be concerned with city image building, rather than addressing the chokehold of automobilisation.

Keywords: Bengaluru; case study; congestion; infrastructure solutionism; motorisation; ç ­åŠ ç½—å°”; æ¡ˆä¾‹ç ”ç©¶; æ‹¥å µ; 基础设施解决主义; 机动化 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00420980241282591 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:62:y:2025:i:9:p:1731-1749

DOI: 10.1177/00420980241282591

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Urban Studies from Urban Studies Journal Limited
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().