[sustran] Pune BRTS joint route set to be Asia’s biggest network

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.dnaindia.com/pune/report-brts-joint-route-set-to-be-asia-s-biggest-network-2006207


BRTS joint route set to be Asia’s biggest network
Tuesday, 29 July 2014 - 10:43am IST | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA

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   Rajesh Rao @RyterRajesh
   <http://www.dnaindia.com/authors/rajesh-rao-ryterrajesh>







   - *DNA Correspondent* *DNA*

The 115 kms of total BRTS network of routes planned for PCMC-PMC area, when
completed and jointly operational, will become Asia's biggest and
one-of-its-kind BRTS interconnected system. This announced by Ex- Officio
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, SK
Lohia, in his keynote address at a seminar organized today for Pimpri
Chinchwad Municipal Corporation officials, on how to develop a sustainable
and equitable transportation for the twin town.
The seminar discussing 'Sustainable Transport for Pimpri Chinchwad' was
organised by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
(ITDP), an international non-governmental non-profit organization providing
technical assistance to cities and local advocacy groups on sustainable
transportation development. The seminar was held on Friday, July 25, at
Hotel Citrus in Pimpri.
On the present situation of urban transport in India, Lohia said that it
has become a constitutional and institutional orphan. "Public transport in
India is not considered as public services. In our city master plans, there
is no place for mobility plan. Our priority should be people and
accessibility, with precedence to pedestrian movement, non-motorized
transport, affective public transport and last private vehicles," he said.
Giving an example, he said that in Mumbai even today, 44% of commuting
happens by walking, so it becomes important that we develop neighbourhoods
that promote walking.
Lohia said that the government is working on the concept of Smart City
Scheme of developing 100 such cities across India and Pune is going to be
one of them. "PCMC-PMC can be the best example of a city in India with the
success of BRTS. It is an illusion that having big, free flow, signal free
roads with flyovers will resolve the problem, instead it is encouraging
that more private vehicles on road," he said.
A total of 45kms of BRTS routes are being developed within PCMC limts,
which include 4 routes of Nigdi-Dapodi (12kms), Sanghvi-Kiwale (14.50kms),
Nashik Phata-Wakad (8kms) and Kalewadi-Dehu-Alandi (10.50kms). The BRTS
projects within PCMC is funded by JNNURM and
Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) programme, in partnership with
Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Bank and United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP).

*Debate and Arguement*
During the presentation on proper implementation of BRTS project by ITDP
experts, PCMC corporators invited for the seminar raised the issue of
difficulties in present planning of BRTS in the twin town, especially the
long delayed Nigdi-Dapodi route, which is causing inconvenience to traffic
movement. They were raising various doubts of how improper implementation
of the BRTS route on Nigdi-Dapodi stretch may give rise to various safety
concerns, with speed lane running in the centre of the 8 lane road. They
pointed that to accommodate BRTS lane the footpath width is being decreased.