[sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke!

[Alan Howes]

Thanks Bina - 

I was in Mumbai for two weeks in Feb/March, and another four weeks in Aug/Sept. But most of my meetings were in the first visit.

And now I have looked up the notes of my meeting with MMRDA (P K Murthy), they don't say anything about cross-over median bus lanes!  However, someone I met in Mumbai definitely floated the idea.

I note all you say.  So BRT is definitely going to happen on the WEH? What are the other corridors in phase I? I would be very intersted to know more - are there any consultation documents around?

I have to say that my initial reaction to the WEH proposal is a bit tepid. How will the BRT journey times compare with suburban rail - and how is the market expected to be segmented between rail and BRT?  OK, rail is grossly over-crowded - but are there good reasons to put BRT into a corridor already well served by rail?

Whether WEH is the place or not, I'm sure there are places in Mumbai that merit BRT. But what Mumbai also needs is the next rung down the ladder - comprehensive bus prorities for "regular" bus routes (not to mention getting on with SATIS). I am a bit worried that the powers that be are seduced by the Big Project of BRT (which on all past experience will take a lot longer than planned), rather than get on with the host of small schemes needed to ensure that using public transport, cycling and walking are made much more attractive - so avoiding Mumbai getting even more grid-locked as more people can afford to choose their mode of transport.

Regards, Alan


-- 
Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bina C. Balakrishnan 
  To: Alan Howes 
  Cc: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport 
  Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:37 AM
  Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke!



    Alan,

  MTSU is a little know office, and may not have been in existence 
  when you were in Mumbai - when was that? It stands for Mumbai 
  Transformation Support Unit, and deals with a lot more than just 
  transportation. It covers all aspects of the city - I deal with 
  the transportation part.

  We are looking at with - flow bus lanes, but are looking at 
  placing orders for buses with doors on the right for the BRT 
  routes. The rest will continue to be used for the other routes, at 
  least until the BRT can become city wide. The suggestion of 
  swapping lanes was not made by the MMRDA, altho they were very 
  much a part of the Core Group. We shall certainly look into it, 
  altho I am personally not in favour of it. Thats because the bus 
  speeds will be compromised, and given the fact that the Western 
  Express Highway has about 17 flyovers along its length, the bus 
  stations will have to be placed carefully in the valleys of the 
  successive flyovers - ie between the down grade of one and the up- 
  grade of the other. I think it is obvious that the safety of the 
  system will be compromised if we have the buses weaving just as 
  they come down the slope of the flyover.

  As regards the gap being used by other traffic - we hope to have 
  these lanes fully segregated, so that wont happen anyway. And the 
  MMRDA have a large number of pedestrian subways in place also 
  along the WEH. But I do agree with you - pedestrians do have a 
  VERY raw deal in Mumbai. We're working on it at the MTSU - we just 
  need a little time.

  Regards,

  Bina


  On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 Alan Howes wrote :
  >My problem is that having spent six weeks in Mumbai last year, 
  >while I mastered reasonably well the transport issues and the 
  >geography, I still have not got all these institutions and 
  >acronyms sorted out!  What is the MTSU? I would guess Mumbai or 
  >Maharashtra Transport Studies Unit - but knowing the name does 
  >not tell me what it is or what it represents. Would anyone like 
  >to volunteer to put a glossary of Maharashtra transport acronyms 
  >on a website somewhere?
  >
  >Anyway, it's obvious that judgement of "responsible reporting" is 
  >something of a subjective matter - but I did wonder whether Raj 
  >could tell his right from his left.  My understanding is that all 
  >proposed Mumbai bus lanes will be on divided highways - when Raj 
  >wrote about lanes in the "middle of the road" I really did not 
  >know whether he meant the middle of the carriageway or next to 
  >the median (and did "right" mean on the wrong side?).
  >
  >Anyway, my understanding of the MMRDA proposals is as explained 
  >in Bina's post. The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes 
  >placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming 
  >bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side 
  >(an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious 
  >proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap 
  >sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and 
  >after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only 
  >potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be 
  >used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a 
  >pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road).
  >
  >I would be interested to know if this proposal is still being 
  >pursued.
  >
  >But I have to say that I will be very pleasantly surprised if a 
  >significant amount of properly-designed, properly-enforced bus 
  >lanes are in operation in Mumbai by the end of 2007.
  >
  >Regards, Alan
  >
  >--
  >Alan Howes
  >Associate Transport Planner
  >Colin Buchanan
  >4 St Colme Street
  >Edinburgh      EH3 6AA
  >Scotland
  >email:  alan.howes at cbuchanan.co.uk
  >tel:      (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard)
  >            (0)7952 464335  (mobile)
  >fax:     (0)131 220 0232
  >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/
  >
  >
  >-----Original Message-----
  > From: 
  >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk at list.jca.apc.org 
  >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk at list.jca.apc.org] 
  >On Behalf Of Bina C. Balakrishnan
  >Sent: 16 March 2007 08:00
  >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport
  >Cc: Rajendra A(Hindustan Times)
  >Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a 
  >joke!
  >
  >
  >I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra's reporting: 
  >I always thought you were one of the more responsible 
  >reporters.
  >The following response has been approved by the Core Working 
  >Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a 
  >collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a 
  >little more bite!
  >
  >
  >"Let's start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core 
  >Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have 
  >already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as 
  >long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one 
  >officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have 
  >said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the 
  >benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 
  >different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all 
  >aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has 
  >only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs.
  >
  >The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 
  >2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal 
  >Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of 
  >Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to 
  >draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be 
  >appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for 
  >BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, 
  >with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase 
  >I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and 
  >submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the 
  >progress of the project, as well as the work of the 
  >consultants.
  >
  >The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- 
  >feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to 
  >avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily 
  >introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called 
  >Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of 
  >various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning.
  >
  >Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a 
  >proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, 
  >with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the 
  >BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no 
  >question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being 
  >over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified 
  >and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover 
  >traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had 
  >their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the 
  >Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the 
  >project had to be temporarily shelved.
  >
  >Regarding the concerned BRTS lane - you are all confused. The CWG 
  >has recommended the median lanes - ie the lanes alongside the 
  >median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and 
  >reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses 
  >to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. 
  >Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus 
  >stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by 
  >parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? 
  >We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope 
  >of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of 
  >using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. 
  >Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is 
  >removal of all parking on all arterial roads - so the 
  >interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct 
  >access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will 
  >definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, 
  >as I said - the Consultant is expected to look into all these 
  >aspects, and recommend the best option.
  >As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, "Hopefully, by 
  >the end of the year."
  >
  >End of formal reply.
  >
  >My apologies for being so dense - but what is the joke?
  >
  >Bina C. Balakrishnan
  >Consultant
  >Transportation Planning & Engineering
  >Mumbai, India
  >
  >
  >
  >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote :
  > >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke!
  > >
  > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm
   
  >Éf> >
  > >Rajendra Aklekar
  > >
  > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007
  > >
  > >Mumbai's Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus 
  >lanes'
  > >project turned into a joke.
  > >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got 
  >them
  > >painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and 
  >timetable has
  > >been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered 
  >and
  > >comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed 
  >corridors. But
  > >there's no road to run these buses and kick off the plan!
  > >
  > >The state transport ministry has appointed a "core group" to 
  >look to
  > >the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a 
  >report, the
  > >government will then consider it, after which a decision will 
  >be taken.
  > >Simply speaking, it's stuck in red tape and won't kick off 
  >before 2008
  > >or even later.
  > >
  > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the 
  >core group
  > >officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. 
  >While the
  > >MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government 
  >officials
  > >want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the 
  >issue,
  > >the matter is now hanging fire.
  > >
  > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the 
  >BRTS
  > >project principal secretary
  > >(transport) GS Gill told HT, "By the end of this calendar 
  >year...
  > >hopefully."
  > >
  > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the 
  >condition
  > >of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as 
  >they would
  > >not slow down buses.
  > >"If lanes are built in the
  > >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, 
  >but in
  > >left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, 
  >have to
  > >invest in infrastructure to build stops." There's another group 
  >of
  > >experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the 
  >middle of
  > >the road for higher speeds.
  > >
  > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a 
  >promise
  > >that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal 
  >Nehru
  > >National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to 
  >the
  > >reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban 
  >mass
  > >transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in 
  >Maharashtra to
  > >kick off the BRTS in November.
  > >
  > >Mumbai's BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got 
  >test-run
  > >done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for 
  >its
  > >project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of 
  >buses.
  > >It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between 
  >Thane and
  > >Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated 
  > from
  > >existing traffic by spring posts.
  > >
  > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses 
  >simply
  > >would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be 
  >difficult
  > >to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes.
  > >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for 
  >the
  > >benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that 
  >there is
  > >better planning and co-ordination between the state 
  >government,
  > >transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure 
  >better
  > >planning for the project.
  > >
  > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local 
  >Self
  > >Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after 
  >which
  > >the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The 
  >core
  > >group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and 
  >the BMC,
  > >among others. "My buses are ready. The moment I get a green 
  >signal from
  > >the government, I shall run them," says BEST general manager 
  >Uttam
  > >Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more 
  >years.
  > >
  > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar at hindustantimes.com
  > >
  > >
  > >---
  > >Rajendra Aklekar
  > >Transport Correspondent
  > >Hindustan Times
  > >HT Media Limited
  > >Mumbai Edition
  > >--
  > >140-4752, Nehru Nagar
  > >Mumbai, 400024
  > >
  > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761
  > >Office: 66539200
  > >Fax: 66539250/60
  > >---
  > >
  > >
  > >
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  >
  >Bina C. Balakrishnan
  >Consultant
  >Transportation Planning & Engineering
  >Mumbai, India
  >e-mail: binac at rediffmail.com
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