[sustran] CHENNAI: Seminar on Public Transport Systems for Chennai ? 25 February 2006, Saturday

[arul rathinam]

Dear Sir/Madam

Pasumai Thaayagam is happy to invite you for a
half-day “Seminar on Public Transport Systems for
Chennai”

The Seminar will be held on 25th February 2006 –
Saturday – 3.30 pm to 07.00 pm.

At IMAGE Auditorium, MRC Nagar, R.A.Puram, Chennai –
28 (Ph: 2493 4638). 

Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, Honorable Union Minister for
Health and Family Welfare,

Prof. Dinesh Mohan, Professor and Coordinator,
Transportation Research and Injury Prevention
Programme, I.I.T. New Delhi,

Prof. T. Anantharajan, Former Professor, Anna
University,

Mr. M. G. Devesagayam, Sustain,

Dr. S. Janakarajan, MIDS

Mrs. Shoba Iyer, CAG and many other environmentalists
will participate.

If you are in Chennai, we look forward to your
presence at the Seminar.

Kindly send your confirmation for the participation in
the seminar to:  pasumaimail at yahoo.co.in   (or)  044 –
2817 2120,  94443 44331

With regards

R.ARUL, Secretary, 
PASUMAI THAAYAGAM (Green Mother Land),
No. 9,(old No: 5), Lynwood Lane, 
Mahalingapuram,
CHENNAI -600 034.

Tel:       044 – 2817 2120

Fax:       044 – 2817 2122

Cell:     94443 44331

Email:  pasumaimail at yahoo.co.in

www.p-t.in


Transport in Chennai
 
Chennai (formerly Madras) is the urban primacy of
Tamil Nadu. Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) covers an
area of 1177 sq. kilometers. CMA had a population of
5.7 millions in 1997 and it has increased to 7 million
now.  

The total number of motor vehicles in Chennai has
increased from 144,282 in 1984 to 1,674,185 in 2005.
Between year 1992 and 2005 the number of motorized two
wheelers increased from 433,046 to 1,266,114 and the
number of motor cars has increased from 122,531 to
301,128.  About 450 vehicles are registered every day
in Chennai. That means 13,000 vehicles in a month and
160,000 a year.

This trend has created many problems like
environmental pollution, noise, traffic fatalities and
injuries, congestion, and mobility problems.  

The majority of the city people use public transport,
bicycles and pedestrian paths – but these modes are
totally neglected in Chennai.

While the personalized motorized modes had increased
manifold over the years, the growth in fleet of buses
is abysmally poor.  The compound growth rate of bus
fleet that was of the order of 9 percent during
1970-80 had reduced to 6 percent during 1980-90 was
about 4.2 percent for the period 1990-2000 and it is
seen to be static now. The total number of buses in
Chennai is 2773; out of these 1294 buses are more then
8 years old, that means Chennai has 1500 buses only.
The passenger growth has decreased from 4,300,000 in
1998 to 3,300,000 in 2005.

There are no segregated lanes for non-motorist
transport and safer pedestrian facilities.
  
Pasumai Thaayagam demands:

(1) improved public transport – i.e. at least 5000
buses (with 3500 new buses), traffic priority for
buses, and possibly Bus Rapid Transit, 

(2) provision of improved rights of way for
pedestrians and bicyclists, 

(3) better air quality.

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