Centre explores options to enhance passenger comfort

Aimed at ending the growing traffic menace in urban areas and enhancing passenger comfort, the Centre is exploring different modes of public transportation.

The ministries of road transport and urban development are jointly studying six of the latest mass rapid transport technologies — metrino, stadler buses, pod taxis, hybrid buses, hyperloop and freight rail road.

The government is exploring cost-effective modern technologies for the public transport sector, as the current system is unable to address the traffic crisis in the country.

Though the metro train system is coming up in several cities across the country, it is not sufficient. The cost of constructing the metro system is also very high. The government is considering newer modes of transportation, and will suggest alternate technologies to the states. However, it will be up to the state governments to adopt it.

A panel headed by Niti Aayog member V K Saraswat is studying the six technologies, and will suggest to the government those best suited to Indian cities, an official in the road rransport ministry told DH.

Representatives of the companies that developed these technologies had recently made presentations before Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Former Indian Engineering Services officer E Sreedharan, who has been dubbed “the metro man”, has suggested elevated rail and road systems to carry goods.

Sreedharan suggested constructing elevated corridors with rail lines where freight trucks can move at high speeds, thereby saving time and allowing the transportation of more goods.

Ensuring a comfortable urban transportation is a challenge to the government as the number of personal vehicles are increasing.

Further, providing a comfortable transportation system to commuters would be one of the features of the Smart Cities Mission.

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu recently said that the Union government is planning to introduce a Green Urban Mobility Scheme, with a funding of Rs 25,000 crore, which will invest in footpaths, cycle-tracks, public-bike sharing, bus rapid transit systems and urban freight management.
DH News Service

The government is exploring cost-effective modern technologies for the public transport sector, as the current system is unable to address the traffic crisis in the country