<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 5.5.2653.12"> <TITLE>RE: Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 40, Issue 1</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> Hi Sujit, Thanks very much for this. I would be interested to know how this progresses because Mumbai is also testing the BRT on the Dadar-Thane stretch. Personally I remain skeptical for its performance in Mumbai, because I can't imagine motorists not wanting to encroach on an empty lane (reserved for buses) on a highway. Maybe I've not understood it right, but let's see how things pan out in Mumbai. Thanks and regards Anupam <A HREF="http://doesmumbaimatter.blogspot.com" TARGET="_blank">http://doesmumbaimatter.blogspot.com</A> Message: 5 Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 01:39:25 +0530 From: "Sujit Patwardhan" <sujit@vsnl.com> Subject: [sustran] Pune First City in India to have BRT System To: "SUSTRAN Asia and Pacific Sustainable Transport"         <sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org> Message-ID:         <4cfd20aa0612041209i49b053ebk2a4315d9631ff79b@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" 4 December 2006 Friends in SUSTRAN, You will be happy to know that Pune inaugurated its BRT System on 3 December 2006, one day short of two years from the date on which Enrique Penalosa made a landmark presentation at a public meeting jointly organized by PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) and PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) on 4 December 2004 at the Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir, Pune. Pune becomes the first city in India to start BRT, on what still is an incomplete Pilot corridor of about 12.5 Kilometers. As enthusiastic supporters of BRT in Pune we have also been concerned about the hasty way in which projects get implemented without proper attention to detail. Yesterday's inauguration at the hands of the Union Urban Development Minister Mr Jaipal Reddy was also an example of this - largely a political affair with the ruling Congress Party rushing to get the project off the ground in time to beat the political deadline set by the oncoming elections to the Local Civic body. Under the election rules no new projects can be announced after the set date which is about 2 months from the date of polling. We are therefore treading cautiously and pressing the authorities to attend to important components of the project to ensure that by the time the full corridor becomes operational it will be a big success and win support from citizens. There are plans for implementing BRT in a phased manner on major roads stretching over 100 Kms throughout the city. Dr Geetam Tiwari and Dr Dinesh Mohan from IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), New Delhi, have played a key role in designing the Pilot project. Dr Nitin Kareer the Municipal Commissioner also deserves credit for having initiated the BRT project despite absence of political support. Although we as a local NGO have ongoing arguments with him and his officers, we acknowledge that without his backing BRT would have remained merely an idea discussed at transportation seminars. In the coming weeks we hope to post photographs and articles on Pune's BRT and would be happy if you take a look at our web site from time to time. www.pttf.net Your comments would be most welcome. Sujit Patwardhan From: <A HREF="http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=339828&sid=REG" TARGET="_blank">http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=339828&sid=REG</A> ------------------------------------------------------------- The content of this communication is subject to CLSA Legal and Regulatory Notices, which can be viewed at https://www.clsa.com/disclaimer.html or sent to you upon request.  </BODY> </HTML>