[sustran] More on urban rail transport problems

kisansbc at bom5 kisansbc at bom5.vsnl.net.in
Fri Dec 17 09:02:40 JST 1999


Dear Eric & Colleagues,

I have still to convey my response discussion raised 
by Eric Bruun through his email of 21.09.1999.  I was 
out of commission due to serious illness and am not working
full time.  Public transport is one area which envigorates me.

We cannot say more on public transport in Europe or in the UK 
but during 3-4 decades of interest and concern for mobility for the 
common man, we feel that the period of London Transport  support by the
British Government was probably the best.  capital expenditure in road and
rail transport was booked after Govt along with accumulated loses. London
Transport Authority could develop the system and operations to meet
commuter needs.  Continued increase in the number of vehicles poses serious
challenge to mobility. Traffic control is increasingly being used to stop
or drastically control vehicle movement in busy areas. In the developing
countries, authorities consider the increase in car ownership as an
indicator of prosperity and modernity of the country.

Public transport has suffered in burgeoning urban areas. Population is
increasing beyond limit bringing in bearable train on the civic
infrastructure. Slums have proliferated in public and private places.About
65% of Mumbai's population of 13 million stays in slums having no public
conveniences. Residents have to travel longer distance. Workers from
neighbouring areas have to commute to congested city centres.

Public transport everywhere and more particularly in the developing
countries have to be substantially subsidised and supported so that minimum
efficiency of the urban conglomeration is realised.

What one observes in Curitiba is somethign unusual.Land use planning,
location of residential and job generating activities, amenities and
practically all aspects of urna planning have to forethought and planned to
reduce movement and to improve efficiency of human settlements.
Implementation of planned urban planning into convenient urban development
can bring about relief but how many settlements have the ideal urban
development?

Transport has an important role to play of moving the people and goods.
Public transport -rail and road-cannot stand on their own.Sustainable
transport volunteers have to demand efficient, comfortable, direct,
affordable facility for movements of the bulk of the residents visitors. We
should strive for that efficient level of transport.

Sometimes we wonder as to why there should be suggestion that public
transport should be self sustainaing when many other aspects of life are
taken to be supported/promoted by the state and the community.  Are motor
cars self paying for all the amenities they receive or the pollution they
generate? Is the cost of roads and land used for roads paid for by the
motor car owners or do they compensate the community for the pollution
theycontinuously generate?

Providing minimum movement facility to the bulk of the people is essential
for better living so the public transport should be supported.

Kisan Mehta
President
Save Bombay Committee     



More information about the Sustran-discuss mailing list