[sustran] Returning the roads to the people

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=17555
*Returning the roads to the people*

PM News Bureau

There is a need to change the mindset and steer away from personalised
transport to public transport. This was stated by Union Minster for Urban
Development S. Jaipal Reddy while inaugurating the three-day National
Conference on Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and
Urban Mobility India in New Delhi recently. The minster said that the key
challenge, for quite some time to come, would be a paradigm shift in the way
we viewed urban transport. The twin pillars of this shift would be:
u First, keeping the interests of pedestrians and cyclists at the core of
all urban infrastructure and transport projects.
u Second, aligning land-use and urban planning with the transport
requirements of the people.
Reddy said, "I am convinced that if we provide attractive options of public
transport, which can be a combination of pedestrian walks, cycle paths,
metros and above all comfortable and convenient bus services, it will
persuade urban commuters to shift voluntarily to public transport systems."
Significantly, Reddy mentioned that his government had approved a
comprehensive national urban transport policy that focused on "returning the
roads to the people" who had been colonised by vehicles. In addition,
substantial Central funds were available under JNNURM and other schemes to
implement the policy by various states.
Reddy pointed out that the Centre was emphasising on setting up an
ITS-enabled modern city bus service in all the cities. A new scheme for
capacity building in urban transport had been prepared. The government was
also urging the states to establish dedicated urban transport funds to
exclusively meet investment requirements of urban transportation.
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