[sustran] Bus rapid systems need proper planning

[Vinay Baindur]

*Date:31/05/2010* *URL:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/05/31/stories/2010053150210700.htm*
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*Bus rapid systems need proper planning*

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The feasibility study should include not only the opinion of the public but
also that of experts, scientists and city planners.
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Our Bureau

A Parliamentary Committee has asked the Ministry for Urban Development to
ensure that a scientific feasibility study with inputs from all stakeholders
is undertaken before commencing bus-rapid-transit system (BRTS) projects in
States.

“A scientific feasibility study is a must prior to the commencement of all
the BRTS projects and the Government should ensure that the feasibility
study, while being undertaken by States/project authorities, should include
not only the opinion of the public as users but also of experts, scientists,
city planners, etc,” the Standing Committee has stated in its report on
urban transport.

It has asked the Ministry to share the shortcomings identified in the
implementation of the BRTS project in Delhi for the benefit of other cities.

The Urban Development Ministry has stated, in its action taken report to the
committee, that the BRTS projects sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) of the Central Government are based
on detailed project reports prepared by the State or city authorities. BRTS
is being taken up in nine mission cities under the JNNURM scheme.

Under the scheme, the Central Government provides financial assistance to
State Governments, subject to certain conditions. The Central financial
assistance to States/Union Territories/urban local bodies is tied to certain
reforms, such as setting up of a dedicated urban transport fund, making
changes in bye-laws and master-plans of cities to integrate land use and
transport planning and setting up of regulatory mechanisms to periodically
revise fares for all public and intermediate public transport systems.

UNIFIED AUTHORITIES

The Standing Committee has also asked the Urban Development Ministry to
assess the success rates of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities
(UMTAs) set up in five cities in providing a unified integrated transport
system in their respective cities, to convince others to follow suit.

UMTAs have been set up for Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai.
In Andhra Pradesh, UMTA for Hyderabad region has been set up for planning,
coordination, supervision, promotion and securing planned development for
Hyderabad Metropolitan region, which is backed by a State legislation.

UMTAs for Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore have been set under the
Chairmanship of Chief Secretaries the respective State Governments; the UMTA
for Jaipur is headed by the Chief Minister. The Ministry further added that
setting up of UMTAs for all cities with million plus population has been
made conditional to funding buses for urban transport under JNNURM.

On the use of the public private partnership (PPP) model in urban
transportation to attract private funding, the Ministry stated that the PPP
model is being followed in certain activities of urban transport in some
cities. For instance, PPP mode has been adopted for city bus service in
Bhopal, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Jaipur and Indore.

The activities for which PPP is adopted are construction and maintenance of
metro projects such as Hyderabad and Mumbai; operation and maintenance of
metro express link in New Delhi (from IGI Airport to New Delhi Railway
Station). Also, there are cases of foot over-bridges being implemented in
Hyderabad through PPP mode.

Intelligent system

The Committee has also called for the need to promote intelligent
transportation system (ITS) framework to ensure safe, smooth and seamless
public transport. The Ministry for Urban Development has approved a proposal
of IIT, Madras to set up a centre for excellence for research in urban
transportation. The proposed areas for focus of the centre would be to
strengthen capacity in ITS and ITS application-based research. It will be
asked to propose a national framework for ITS.