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India - News
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Something to think about - August 2005
This report was submitted to Shri Sanjay Ubale (Mumbai Task Force).
Problem Statement BEST had started a fuel-saving mission. If fuel efficiency improves from 3 kmpl to 3.5 kmpl, BEST can save upto Rs 30 crores. In other words its 10,000 drivers have to make each litre of diesel last 500 metres more than it does now. In 2003, BEST’s transportation unit made a loss of about Rs 94 crores!
Transportation background1. Over 88% of the commuters in Mumbai travel by suburban trains or BEST buses. 2. Mumbai's Suburban Rail System carries about 64 lakhs passengers per day. About 4700 passengers travel in a 9-car rake during peak hours, as against its rated carrying capacity of only 1,700. 3. In 1947, there were 242 buses in operation on 23 routes and carrying 2.38 lakhs passengers per day. In 2003, there are 3400 buses carrying 45 lakhs passengers daily on 443 routes.
Reasons for Traffic congestion and other transportation problems: Ø Urbanization and suburbanization have proceeded at a rapid rate Ø Many more cars on the street Ø Poor road conditions Ø Poor road sense amongst taxi and rickshaw drivers Ø Pedestrians and cyclists share the same street
The total estimated cost of MMRDA’s Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) project is Rs. 45260 million (US$ 943 million). But the project includes purchase of only around 500 eco-friendly buses at a cost of Rs. 1130 Million. This is less than 2.5% of the total project cost!
BEST Vision 2000 has several plans to introduce CNG Buses; Articulated single deck VESTIBULE Buses; Luxury and A/C Luxury buses; Transparent-roof tourist buses and Automatic transmission buses. There are very things planned, which will help reduce congestion and losses.Conventional solutions, that don’t work that well:Ø Congestion tax Ø Gasoline Tax Ø Toll road for cars (limited success, as 30 cars account for 1 bus on the road) Ø Bigger and wider roads
In his book “Eight Myths of Traffic Planning”, the author and long-time Austin, Texas-based transportation activist, says that widening highways or expanding road capacity to favor cars over pedestrians will not help reduce congestion. In every city of the world the volume of traffic is limited, intentionally or unintentionally, by governmental policies. People don't love their cars any more than politicians love to keep raising gas taxes to try to keep building roads to keep up with ever-increasing demand. Each new car requires 30 times as much roadway space as the transit it replaces and encourages low-density suburban sprawl.
Bigger roads act like magnets to attract and generate traffic for the following reasons: Ø New trip destinations are made practical. Ø The frequency of some trips increases because access becomes easier. Ø People take jobs farther from home. Ø Some people shift from transit to cars. Ø The reduction in transit ridership encourages land-use patterns oriented toward car travel. Each increase in capacity provided ratchets up demand, attracts more traffic and thus justifies further increases.
Basic research on the possible solutions
Amongst other results of studies conducted by University of Illinois and Berkeley University: 1. Provide dedicated bus lanes 2. Make some streets “Bus Only” 3. Improve traffic through more use of fringe streets 4. Parking should be well defined, as it’s a high priority for many
European Research results
The Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia have listed several Measurement categories for improvement of public transport:
Ø Dedicated Space for Public Transport: Ø Dedicated bus lane Ø Peak hour, dedicated bus lane (tidal flow) Ø Permitting two-way bus access on one-way streets Ø Separated bus street Ø Programming traffic lights to turn green for public transit before vehicles Ø Creating an integrated and intelligent transit corridor; typically via traffic light priority, free transfers, dedicated lanes, etc. Ø Constructing or reserving lanes for only those vehicles with high occupancy; typically 3 or more people, taxis, and busses
Some of the cities around the world that have implemented dedicated bus lane:
US Department of Transportation has listed the benefits of Dedicated Bus lanes: Ø Very low cost of implementation Ø Quick implementation Ø As shown in New York, a dedicated bus lane can carry as many commuters as a train system Ø Would improve road discipline Ø Better fuel efficiency reduces petrol bills Ø Less commute time Ø Less traffic congestion Ø Lesser driver fatigue
Recommendations to improve performance and reduce losses:Ø Cars wanting to turn left (in India) can be allowed to use dedicated bus lanes Ø Traffic congestion causes lower fuel efficiency. BEST buses’ in-efficient mileage of only 3 km per liter of diesel is a major operational expense. Ø Older buses can be replaced with CNG buses Ø Adopt newer Urban Transportation methodologies as practiced world-wide Ø Survey commuters of AC bus service Ø Make the AC bus stop more prominent, by adding a big sign post Ø Display the schedule at bus stops Ø Adhere to time schedules and make the service more regularized Ø Provide the infrastructure to the bus drivers for better operations. Ideal infrastructure is to provide for a dedicated bus lane Ø Look at ways to improve fuel efficiency like giving incentives to the bus drivers for better fuel efficiency
Sample starts for Dedicated Bus lane:This can be done in the outside lane (adjoining the footpath – lane # 1) on the following routes. Then the program can be expanded to other areas based on the initial success. Ø Worli to Haji Ali Ø Sion to Byculla Ø Bandra-Dharavi junction to Andheri via WE Highway Ø Sion to Mulund via EE Highway Ø Parking islands for taxis must be provided before expansion. Taxis can park in lane 2 and cars can move freely in lanes 2, 3 and 4. Conclusion - The suggestions were implemented but in a crowded area like VT to Nariman Point. Making documents is very easy, but implementing is extremely difficult. One the initial inertia is overcome, the fruits of success can be enjoyed by all.
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