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The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has cautioned that infrastructure in Bangalore will be inadequate to bear the projected population of over one crore by 2030, compared to 80 lakh at present.
The transport infrastructure in Bangalore is dismal as buses and trains are over-crowded, and sorely lack comfort and convenience for commuters, said Assocham in a study titled ‘Urbanising India and Mega Metro Network: Vision for the Emerging Cities of India 2030'.
It suggested introduction of a mass-rapid transit system (MRTS) to decongest roads and cope up with rapid urbanisation in and around India's ‘Tech Eden'.
Rapid urbanisation has fuelled the need for an effective and sustainable public-transport system in Bangalore following the Delhi Metro public-private model, explained Assocham.
Breakneck growth in Bangalore has pushed the city towards crisis. Frequent traffic snarls due to narrow and choked road network is impeding growth by adding to costs of goods and services.
Assocham, thus, urged the Karnataka Government to build an environment-friendly MRTS and fast-track its Rs 12,000-crore metro-rail project.
“The rapidly progressing city of Bangalore lacks a credible public transport system,” said Mr Ravindra Sana Reddy, Chairperson of the Assocham Southern Regional Chapter. “Metro is a cost-effective feasible solution to put an end to transportation woes of millions of commuters.”
More populous cities
Traffic decongestion by encouraging commuters to shun their vehicles and use public transport is the primary aim of MRTS, said chamber's Secretary General Mr D.S. Rawat.
The number of cities with over 10 lakh people will increase to 68 from 48 now in the next two decades, said Mr Rawat. “A nationwide network of mass-transport systems is imperative to avert urban vehicular traffic.”
According to the study, number of cities with population of 40 lakh and above will increase to 13 from seven at present in the next two decades. Growth in these cities will account for almost 70 per cent of India's GDP.
The metro network in Delhi has resulted in benefits like lesser air pollution, shorter commutes, fewer road accidents, reduced traffic congestion and fuel savings.
“Fuel savings due to Delhi Metro Rail could notch up to Rs 8,000 crore in 2011-12 and rise progressively to Rs 15,000 crore by 2020,” said the study. “Over two lakh office goers, businessmen and other professionals travel back and forth via metro in Delhi, and use their cars to move from home to station and back on weekdays.”
Delhi Metro has also become the world's first railway project to receive carbon credits for ‘regenerative braking', a process that helps save unused energy in an engine, and the environmental technology has also contributed over Rs 2 crore under a UN-backed initiative to combat climate change.
The number of vehicles on roads has dropped by 80,731 for four-wheelers and by 4.8 lakh for two-wheelers, and 4,767 more buses have been withdrawn. By 2015-16, the reduction in number of four-wheelers and two-wheelers is projected to reach 2.4 lakh and 1.5 lakh. Number of buses withdrawn will rise to 12,388.
MRTS will help reduce pressure on sub-urban transport. Beside being environment-friendly, it is also a financially viable and economical transport mode attractive to commuters, said the apex chamber.
The study said MRTS will also help save fuel and vehicle-operating costs, and shorten commutes.
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