<p>Three out of five intermodal transit hubs proposed by the State government as a solution to traffic congestion on roads in the City have been cancelled, leaving the future of the project in doubt. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Envisaged by the government in 2009-2010, the hubs were to be located in various parts of the City. However, there has been little progress in the development of these hubs, making them a distant dream despite the State’s argument that they are essential to the effective management of traffic. <br /><br />Although showcased during the 2012 Global Investors’ Meet, a recent check showed that of the five locations proposed by the government, three have been knocked off from the list while the remaining two — at Yelahanka and Baiyappanahallu, still not having reached the desired stage. <br /><br />According to well-placed sources in the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD), the cancelled hubs are those at Yeshwantpur, Peenya and BIAPPA (Trumpet Interchange) on Bellary road.<br /><br />Speculation that the hubs were cancelled after feasibility studies showed the proposed areas were not viable have been contradicted by reliable sources. “A pre-feasibility study was to be have been done by KSIIDC-ILFS, both project development companies, but the hubs were cancelled even before the study could be conducted,” they said.<br /><br />The estimated cost of the project at Yeshwantpur was Rs 45 crore, while those at Peenya and BIAPPA had an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore, respectively. <br /><br />While sources could not reveal the reasons for the cancellations, they nevertheless assured that the basic concept was not being done away with.<br /><br />Resource management<br /><br />The existence of such hubs, which are common in several foreign countries, will help lower transportation costs by allowing each mode to be used for the portion of the trip for which it is best suited. <br /><br />The hubs will also increase economic productivity and efficiency and reduce the burden on overstressed infrastructure components by emphasising infrastructure assets with greater capacity.<br /><br />“This will also help generate higher returns from public and private infrastructure investments, improve mobility for the elderly, disabled, isolated, and the economically disadvantaged while reducing energy consumption and contributing to improved air quality and environmental conditions,” an official said.<br /><br />While the State does not have any immediate plans to introduce a single ticket travel format, with common tickets for various mode of transport, officials point out that such a facility is the way of the future.<br /><br />Experts have described the system as being crucial in addressing road congestion in urban areas. “It is the ideal system because it will allow urban transport systems to complement and not compete with each other,” they said. <br /></p>
<p>Three out of five intermodal transit hubs proposed by the State government as a solution to traffic congestion on roads in the City have been cancelled, leaving the future of the project in doubt. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Envisaged by the government in 2009-2010, the hubs were to be located in various parts of the City. However, there has been little progress in the development of these hubs, making them a distant dream despite the State’s argument that they are essential to the effective management of traffic. <br /><br />Although showcased during the 2012 Global Investors’ Meet, a recent check showed that of the five locations proposed by the government, three have been knocked off from the list while the remaining two — at Yelahanka and Baiyappanahallu, still not having reached the desired stage. <br /><br />According to well-placed sources in the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD), the cancelled hubs are those at Yeshwantpur, Peenya and BIAPPA (Trumpet Interchange) on Bellary road.<br /><br />Speculation that the hubs were cancelled after feasibility studies showed the proposed areas were not viable have been contradicted by reliable sources. “A pre-feasibility study was to be have been done by KSIIDC-ILFS, both project development companies, but the hubs were cancelled even before the study could be conducted,” they said.<br /><br />The estimated cost of the project at Yeshwantpur was Rs 45 crore, while those at Peenya and BIAPPA had an estimated cost of Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore, respectively. <br /><br />While sources could not reveal the reasons for the cancellations, they nevertheless assured that the basic concept was not being done away with.<br /><br />Resource management<br /><br />The existence of such hubs, which are common in several foreign countries, will help lower transportation costs by allowing each mode to be used for the portion of the trip for which it is best suited. <br /><br />The hubs will also increase economic productivity and efficiency and reduce the burden on overstressed infrastructure components by emphasising infrastructure assets with greater capacity.<br /><br />“This will also help generate higher returns from public and private infrastructure investments, improve mobility for the elderly, disabled, isolated, and the economically disadvantaged while reducing energy consumption and contributing to improved air quality and environmental conditions,” an official said.<br /><br />While the State does not have any immediate plans to introduce a single ticket travel format, with common tickets for various mode of transport, officials point out that such a facility is the way of the future.<br /><br />Experts have described the system as being crucial in addressing road congestion in urban areas. “It is the ideal system because it will allow urban transport systems to complement and not compete with each other,” they said. <br /></p>