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 transportation infrastructure in Bangalore is dismal as buses and trains are over-crowded, and sorely lack comfort and convenience for commuters, said Assocham in its study ‘Urbanising India and Mega Metro Network: Vision for the Emerging Cities of India 2030’.

It, therefore, suggested introduction of a mass rapid transportation system (MRTS) to decongest roads and cope with rapid urbanisation in and around India’s ‘Tech Eden’.

Rapid urbanisation has fuelled the need for an effective and sustainable public transportation system in Bangalore following the Delhi Metro model – an example of synergy between public and private sectors, explains Assocham.

Growth explosion in Bangalore has pushed the city and its denizens towards serious crisis. Frequent traffic snarls due to narrow and choked road network is proving to be a growth bottleneck adding to increased costs of goods and services.

Assocham thus urged the Karnataka Government to undertake an environment-friendly MRTS and put its Rs 12,000-crore metro rail project on a fast-track.

“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.”

Traffic decongestion by encouraging commuters to shun their vehicles and use public transport is the primary aim of MRTS, said the Assocham Secretary-General, Mr D.S. Rawat.

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