Mumbai, August 07, 2025: The Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) has announced five finalists for the $3 million Sustainable Cities Challenge aimed at addressing crowd management challenges in the historic city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi. The challenge, developed in partnership with the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, Challenge Works, and World Resources Institute (WRI), is focused on easing congestion and improving the experience for residents and millions of visitors in one of India’s oldest and most culturally significant cities.
The challenge attracted proposals from across the globe. Ten semi-finalists were selected earlier to refine their ideas over six months, out of which five teams were chosen after a rigorous evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, scalability, and understanding of local needs. Each finalist will receive $130,000 to implement and test their crowd flow solutions in Varanasi.
The selected finalists are:
Arcadis, whose SANKALP solution integrates real-time data, mobile technology, and advanced simulation to shift from reactive to proactive crowd management.
CITYDATA, Inc., offering CityFlow, a cloud-based platform using big data, AI, and computer vision to simulate and manage crowd behavior without the need for new hardware.
VOGIC AI, presenting Behtar-Way, a hyperlocal pedestrian navigation platform that provides real-time intelligence for both users and officials.
Prameya Consulting Private Limited, with Nayichaal, a “phygital” solution combining a chatbot, wayfinding tools, and mobility dashboards to improve accessibility and inclusivity.
The Urbanizer, whose Jan Jatra blends local knowledge, color-coded signage, and tactical urbanism strategies to make navigation easier and safer.
The challenge supports solutions that address the safety and movement challenges in Varanasi’s dense and narrow lanes while preserving the city's cultural and spiritual fabric. These pilots aim to demonstrate long-term, scalable approaches to managing high-density crowds during routine and peak pilgrimage seasons.
“Through the Sustainable Cities Challenge, Varanasi is setting a global example for how historic and pilgrimage cities can embrace innovation without compromising their identity,” said Akshat Verma, IAS, Municipal Commissioner and CEO, Varanasi Municipal Corporation/Smart City. “These five outstanding finalists are not only developing solutions that enhance safety, accessibility and the lived experience for both residents and pilgrims, but also ensuring they safeguard the cultural and spiritual fabric of Kashi for future generations.”
Pras Ganesh, Executive Program Director, Toyota Mobility Foundation, stated, “From a field of global innovators, these finalists stood out for their creative, practical, and contextual approaches to one of the world’s most complex mobility environments. We’re excited to see how their solutions are implemented on the ground.”
Avinash Dubedi, Head, Sustainable Cities and Transport at WRI India, said, “Their solutions go beyond easing congestion—they reimagine how people of all ages and abilities—residents, pilgrims, and those with special needs—can move through the city with dignity, safety, and ease.”
Kathy Nothstine, Director of Cities and Societies at Challenge Works, added, “The finalist teams reflect the best of collaborative, interdisciplinary innovation, and their work will help transform how we think about movement, space and sacredness in dense urban areas.”
Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We are truly inspired by the commitment and ingenuity of the five finalists. Their innovations have the potential to transform historic cities and set new global standards in crowd management and urban mobility.”
The challenge highlights Varanasi’s efforts to harmonize tradition and modern mobility through globally relevant, locally grounded solutions.
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