[sustran] Bus Rapid Transit needs infrastructure to work

[Vinay Baindur]

*Bus Rapid Transit needs infrastructure to work*
 *By Express News Service
27 Feb 2010 08:12:23 AM IST*
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BANGALORE: Senior transport engineer for sustainable transport from the USA,
Dario Hidalgo, on Friday pointed out that building roads, flyovers,
underpasses and widening of roads is not enough to get rid of traffic
congestion in urban areas.
“Besides BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), infrastructure and accessibility should be
created for non-motorised transport for pedestrians and cyclists,” he said.
He said that the BRT system in Asia is not yet fully understood by
stakeholders, at a day-long national workshop on BRT held by the Directorate
of Urban Land Transport. He added that Delhi’s problems resulted in a
negative impact on BRT all over India as the Delhi bus corridor had several
problems in its first weeks.
Hidalgo said BRT is a high quality public transport system, oriented to
users and offering fast, comfortable and low-cost urban mobility. He
stressed the importance of BRT for Bangalore. “Following economic
development, numbers of vehicles are increasing faster than population,” he
said.
The Comprehensive Transport and Traffic Plan for Bangalore proposes that BRT
can be done for 291.5 km at a cost of Rs 3,498 crore in two phases in 14
corridors. The proposal is to develop BRT on the Outer Ring Road as a pilot
project from Hebbal to Central Silk Board junction.
The bus system would have a dedicated corridor and operate new technology
buses designed for urban environment.
Hidalgo said that BRT does not need wide roads to be incorporated in urban
areas. “BRT will be a success provided it has dedicated bus lanes and
elevated tracks besides integrating the feeder services with the system,” he
added.
Transport Secretary S Shankarlinge Gowda said that BRT can be incorporated
in Bangalore if certain corridors are facilitated for it.
“Without the involvement of civic bodies, BRT cannot be implemented.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Development
Authority (BDA) should be proactive and take up the project,” he added.
Gowda said that BRT should also be planned for developing cities like Mysore
and Hubli-Dharwad. “BDA should take up developing of BRT for 30 km in the
first phase,” he added.
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