[sustran] Proper training on cards for transport staff by MoUD

[Vinay Baindur]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Proper-training-on-cards-for-transport-staff/articleshow/5210448.cms

 Proper training on cards for transport staffTNN 10 November 2009, 05:16am
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NAGPUR: Union Urban Development Ministry has decided to train personnel
associated with urban transport projects to ensure improved mobility in
cities on a sustainable basis. The ministry has formulated 'Scheme for
capacity building in urban transport' for 11th and 12th five year plan
periods. It has decided to focus on cities coming under Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission.

Union Urban Development Secretary Dr M Ramachandran in a letter to the chief
secretary of Maharashtra has sought the cooperation of state in implementing
the scheme. The letter stated that India, like all developing countries, had
witnessed rapid growth in number of personal vehicles in the last few years
leading to severe congestion and air pollution. So far attempts to mitigate
these problems had been limited to expansion of metro rail, bus services,
road widening or construction of flyovers. However, these measures have had
a limited impact and several measures needed to be taken in a coordinated
manner.

Ramachandran stated that the measures included improved integration of land
use and transport planning, integration of public transport systems, demand
restraint, etc. He lamented that the capability to undertake such a
coordinated approach and complete understanding of such issues was lacking
at both state and city levels. The scheme proposes setting up institutes
that would conduct post graduate and doctoral courses in urban transport
planning. It would design the curriculum and then conduct training
programmes.

Regional centres for conducting training programmes will be identified and
strengthened. This will be done by inviting expression of interest from
existing institutes. The institutes will be selected on basis of
infrastructure, faculty, geographical spread and potential for tying up with
professional institutes nearby. Only three to four centres will be set up in
the country.

Under the scheme a professional journal on urban transport will be taken out
and the concerned authorities will have to subscribe to this journal and
other international journals on urban transport. Annual conferences will be
held to disseminate views of experts. The ministry also plans to develop
legal and administrative frameworks, manuals, codes and standards and
national database for urban transport.

The Institute of Urban Transport will be upgraded. National level
consultancy organizations will be promoted to provide professionals to
assist state and local governments. The ministry also plans to set up
research institutes for new types of urban transport systems like guided
rail based transit system. At city level unified metropolitan transport
authority and unified transport cells will be set up.