'Public transport is the way forward'

Speaking to Deccan Herald in an exclusive interaction, Volvo Buses Corporation Public Affairs Director Ulf Gustanfsson said the Swedish firm now plans a wider product range in India.
Over the years the company has adapted to the needs of the sub-continent and has developed several unique technologies to meet the growing requirement, he pointed out.

Before planning on expanding the transportation system of any city, the environmental issues need to be considered. Moreover, the best way forward for the Transport authorities to check on environmental degradation, in the existing system, is to switch to public transport, said Ulf Gustanfsson.

As several stakeholders are involved in the planning of a City, implementation of an idea can be a tough task. However, the challenge is to make them believe in the importance and necessity of the public transport system, he urged.

On probable solution to road transport woes in a city like Bangalore, Gustanfsson said Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) is one of the most viable options.

“The efficiency of bus transport can seldom be measured accurately, when they are travelling along with cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic,” he said, adding that a dedicated bus lane was the way forward.

When asked about the relevance of a dedicated bus lane in the wake of the Metro rail project, he said that as metro would be a single route project, it cannot provide the last mile connectivity and it was here that the buses came into play.

“A fine balance should be struck between both forms of transportation, each adding on to each other’s efficiency, thus bringing about a change in the attitude of the people towards the use of public transport,” he stressed.

Volvo Buses India Managing Director Akash Passey commended the efforts of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).