[sustran] Chennai Seminar - Monorail project not viable, says Anbumani ? The Hindu

arul rathinam arulgreen at yahoo.com
Mon Feb 27 13:47:02 JST 2006


Monorail project not viable, says Anbumani
 
"Metro rail will suit the State better"
 
Staff Reporter – The Hindu, 27–02-2006
 
·  Hassle-free commuting enhances productivity 
·  Bus-rapid transport system mooted
 
Chennai: Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has
termed the State Government's proposed monorail
project "unviable". Mr. Ramadoss said that the
advanced countries used the monorail system only for
short distances but the Tamil Nadu government had
proposed a 300-kilometre network for Chennai. Even
Japan used it only as a feeder service, he said at a
seminar on public transport systems organised here on
Saturday by the voluntary organisation Pasumai
Thayagam. 
 
The approximate cost of laying one kilometre of the
monorail network would be Rs. 162 crore, the Minister
said. The fares would also have to be high, thus
making the service unaffordable, he added. 
 
In contrast to the monorail, the metro rail project
abandoned by the State was a far better option that
would serve more number of people and reduce
congestion on roads, Mr. Ramadoss said. Noting that
vehicle explosion on roads was a serious threat to
road safety, the Minister urged the Government to
strictly carry out the required procedure before
issuing licences. This could prevent a number of road
accidents, he noted. 
 
Bus rapid transport 

Dinesh Mohan, coordinator of the Transportation
Research and Injury Programme, IIT Delhi, also said
that the monorail was an extremely costly option of
public transport. Making a case for bus rapid
transport systems, Mr. Mohan said that it was a cheap
and efficient method that only required better traffic
management. 
"Even in Delhi and Kolkata, the metro rail is
under-utilised. A rapid transport system with a
dedicated traffic lane only for buses is the best
option for cities," he said. A bus rapid transport
system would require very little investment as it did
not require a completely new infrastructure network to
be put in place. Further, advanced information
technology could be used to schedule
transport-on-demand bus systems to meet needs during
peak hours, Mr. Mohan added. 
 
Urban infrastructure expert Anandarajan, former
professor at Anna University, said that Chennai had a
vehicle population of 17 lakh, of which 13 lakh was
two-wheelers. He called for an integrated bus and rail
system to push up the use of public transport and
reduce dependence on two-wheelers and cars. 
 
Madras Institute of Development Studies Professor S.
Janakarajan stressed on planned development for the
city's peri-urban areas, which were growing rapidly.
"If roads are congested when a person commutes from a
suburb to the city for work, the hassle he has to go
through reduces overall productivity levels," he said.

 
M.G. Devasahayam, trustee of voluntary organisation
SUSTAIN, said that the average age of the 2,773 buses
in Chennai is 7.62 years. The Metropolitan Transport
Corporation must procure new high-capacity buses such
as vestibule buses. Shobha Iyer, Citizen Consumer and
Civic Action Group, underscored the need for
affordable transport for the poor. She added that
pedestrians and cyclists must be included in the
transport development plan.
 
The Hindu, 27–02-2006
http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/27/stories/2006022714250300.htm 

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