10 instructive points from "Shanghai" for Tehran

At least 8 out of every 10 private cars are EVs. Cars without carbon pollution and even noise pollution. Gasoline cars are rarely seen. Almost 90% of EV cars are Chinese brands and most of them are unknown in Iran

Ambassador Arjan; Omid Khazani - during a 2-week trip to China - most of which was spent in Shanghai - he listened to several points of learning from this important metropolis for Tehran, which might be effective in improving life in Tehran:

1. Shanghai is one of the most important cities in China with a population of 24 million. (More than the total population of our 3 metropolises: Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan). However, in this city, you absolutely do not feel like you live in a metropolis that is tied to smoke, traffic, car horns, stress and diseases!

2. We can safely say that even in relatively crowded and high-traffic areas of the city, there is absolutely no sense of pollution and the smell of gasoline and diesel. This huge city is unbelievably clean to the point where it can be claimed that none of the European megacities (over 4 million people) can compete with this city in the level of reducing carbon production. Because the use of electric cars and public transportation has worked wonders in this city.

3. At a glance, it is clear that at least 8 out of every 10 personal cars are EVs. Cars without carbon pollution and even noise pollution. Gasoline cars are rarely seen. Almost 90% of EV cars are Chinese brands and most of them are unknown in Iran.

4. If the concern for the environment and saving our metropolises, especially Tehran, is serious, the entry of these cars can be facilitated. Most of these electric brands are in the price range of 60-80 thousand yuan (equivalent to 8-10 thousand dollars) and our government should not be greedy for the income from the import duties of electric and hybrid cars! Because many times it should be spent on treating the diseases of the residents of big cities!

5. Although gasoline with octane below 92 is not available in Shanghai and the price of gasoline is in the range of 9 yuan to 12 yuan (360 to 500 thousand tomans), but it is not a public concern because there are plenty of electric cars available.

6. Despite the fact that there are plenty of male and female motorcyclists in this city, you will never see a gasoline motorcycle, and almost 100% of motorcycles are electric, without an annoying noise!

It is said that one of the main causes of pollution in Tehran is worn out motorcycles. Can't Tehran municipality facilitate the use of electric motorcycles, which are tied to the lives of most people, with its huge budget?

7. The development of towers and skyscrapers in this modern metropolis has not destroyed the visual and national identity because the green space and sidewalks have been generously developed in addition to the symbolic Chinese parks and gardens.

8. The public transportation network is unique. The Shanghai metro is so wide and accessible that anywhere in this 6,500 km (square) metropolis, the nearest station is less than a 5-minute walk away, and it is very cheap to travel almost everywhere in this city and its suburbs. Electric bicycles and scooters are everywhere and can be used for one yuan. The city's bus system is fully advanced and fully electric.

9. Shanghai has two big and important airports, but it is interesting to know that it has 10 very big train stations and some of them are maybe even as big as Pudong airport. One of the secrets of the success of this city and similar cities lies in their railway system. Urban development in terms of housing control and pollution control is not possible without decentralization, and decentralization is dependent on the development of rail transportation.

The high-speed trains of this station have brought the distance between the satellite cities and even the surrounding big cities to these megacities to a few minutes! For example, the distance from Guangzhou to Shanghai - about 180 km - can be covered in about 40 minutes, and with satellite cities at a distance of 50 to 100 km in a quarter of an hour. The number of trains to some routes is so high that you can find a train to some routes every 10 minutes. The solution to Tehran's pollution problem as well as Tehran's housing crisis lies in the development of the railway.

10. The last point is that the Chinese government, especially the Shanghai administration, provides citizens with extensive facilities for using smart watches. Through these smart watches, the health monitoring program is provided to the citizens through local apps of China, schedule of trains and festivals, and other services and programs.

The miracle that happened with the help of management, order and technology in this city is admirable. It may not be possible to transform an urban space like Tehran in the short term, but some decisions and the correct use of imported green technology can change the face of the city and the lives of millions of people and residents of the metropolis of Tehran.