Assessing the social aftermaths of Tohid tunnel project in the city of Tehran

Tohid tunnel has been built by Tehran’s municipality to decrease traffic (in 4 districts “2, 6, 10, 11”), environmental pollution and gas consumption of vehicles. Construction of this tunnel took 29 months, from Khordad 1386 to Bahman 1388. Construction process and after completion, the tunnel itself have had many positive and negative effects on target groups. Effects of the project have been assessed using 10 step ETA method and a method which is a combination of the quantitative (survey and survey journey, with 1420 person) and qualitative (280 in-depth interview with persons and groups) methods. Results are showing that during construction; heavy traffic, economical damage, social problems, environmental pollution (dust, noise) and respiratory and mental problems have occurred extensively that caused problems for habitants of the areas, drivers and shop keepers of the area. When the tunnel has become available for use, it has had positive effects for people who live in northern and southern parts of the city but others who have had no access to the tunnel have not benefited from it. Researchers suggest that by constructing this tunnel, Tehran’s municipality increased social injustice instead of social justice. To compensate this social injustice there are some suggestions like developing green spaces, cutting off municipality tax, developing ways to access the tunnel, changing the ventilation system of the tunnel.