TACKLING URBAN TRANSPORT  -OPERATING PLAN FOR DELHI

Vision

Delhi should be a well managed, clean and dynamic city serving its citizens as a model capital city.

Mission statement

To provide safe, eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient modes of transportation through a well integrated multi-modal transport system.

The Present

The present transport system is characterized by road traffic congestion with declining ambient air quality accompanied by a rising trend in road accidents. The focus of all efforts need to be on reducing congestion, improving air quality by lower levels of vehicular pollution and enhancing road safety while improving amenities for commuters.

The Challenge

This situation is likely to worsen due to increasing population and economic growth. The population of Delhi is expected to grow from 138 lakh in 2001 to 230 lakh by year 2021. However the daily transport demand is expected to grow from 139 lakh in 2001 to 279 lakh passenger trips by the year 2021. To cater to this demand, the mass transport system will need to be augmented substantially and the road infrastructure, traffic management and associated amenities improved substantively.

There are several factors responsible for the prevailing road congestion, pollution and lack of road safety. The basic cause, however, is the imbalance in the modal mix of passenger traffic carried by various modes

of transport. There is a preponderance of low capacity vehicles such as two wheelers and cars. This is induced by increasing inadequacy of mass transport to cater to travel demand both in quantity and quality.

Policy

With the objective of achieving a balanced modal mix and to discourage personalized transport, it is proposed to augment mass transport by massive investments accompanied by institutional improvements. The focus, therefore, will be on increasing mass transport options by providing adequate, accessible and affordable modes like buses, mini-buses, electric trolley buses complemented by a network of a rail based mass rapid transit systems like metro and commuter rail. Para transit modes like autos and taxis are envisaged to provide feeder services in designated areas catering to work and leisure trips. Non-motorized transport like bicycles and cycle rickshaws will be accommodated.

Mass Transport

In order to strike the appropriate modal balance, an extensive mass transport system including a metro, commuter rail and buses will be required. Considering this, 245 km. of a metro system network to cater to demand upto 2021 is being planned. Of this in Phase-I, 39 km is under implementation and 21 km. is expected to be completed by 2005. In addition, Phase I of the commuter rail system called the Integrated Rail and Bus transit (IRBT) along three existing railway lines is also being taken up in partnership with neighbouring State Governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India.

Even after a fully developed rail based Mass Rapid Transit System has come into existence, the bus system will continue to play the role of the main mass transport system provider. The bus system is proposed to be augmented to 10000 CNG buses within a year on Stage Carriage to be supplemented with about 4000 CNG buses on chartered and premium services. Premium bus services will be introduced on selected routes. High Capacity Bus Systems on selected corridors for 100 km is planned. In addition, on 32 km of selected corridors, Electric Trolley Buses will also be introduced in order to reduce congestion and pollution. A Light Rail Transit for the walled city is being considered. In order to improve the bus system dedicated busways/lanes are being planned on designated road corridors.

Development of bus terminals is very important for efficient operation of any bus system. Three directional Inter State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) have already been provided and two more are to be taken up at Dwarka & Narela. The services at the existing ISBTs at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan will be further improved.

Intermediate Public Transport System (IPT)

IPT modes will continue to play an important role even in the future as feeder services to the main mass transport system and providing accessible movement in pre-designated areas. Therefore, steps are being taken to strengthen this system by proper regulation and discipline.

Controlling Vehicular Pollution

A number of additional measures will be taken to reduce vehicular pollution by providing CNG buses, strengthening the Pollution Under Control (PUC) system, introduction of strict Inspection and Certification Systems and promotion of advanced technologies. Special focus will be on safety certification and stringent inspection of all transport vehicles. A Safety Council to set standards for vehicle safety and fitness is being set up shortly.

Road Infrastructure

A number of flyovers, bridges and pedestrian subways are under construction and many more are being contemplated. In addition, existing roads are being widened and new roads constructed. The peripheral expressway and NH2 bypass are being taken up to siphon off inter-city traffic passing through Delhi.

Several low cost and quickly implementable transport system management (TSM) measures are being given a lot of importance in order to improve traffic flow. TSM plans are being prepared for various corridors and will be taken up for implementation.

Integration issues

Integration of all modes of transport is necessary to achieve the potential of each mode. Feeder systems to metro and commuter rail will be provided. Facilities for parking of personalised modes, autos and taxis are proposed at all stations. Time table and fare integration for metro rail and buses are also contemplated.

Financing

Plan Outlays � Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07)

A large investment is required to finance the proposed urban transport system. For this, budgetary provisions have been enhanced in the Tenth Plan (2002-07) of the Government of NCT of Delhi. The financial outlays approved in the Tenth Plan for the transport sector are:

(A)             Transport Department

            (B) Other Agencies

For this, it is proposed to set up an Integrated Metropolitan Transport Authority (IMTA) which will look after regulatory issues like fares and tariffs as well as provisioning and common functions/services for metro, rail and bus systems. Until IMTA is formed a Delhi Transport Planning Group (DTPG) may be set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister. To provide technical and logistic support to the DTPG and then IMTA, a Traffic Engineering and Transport planning cell will be set up which will function under the aegis of the Transport Department but will draw expertise from PWD, MCD, NDMC and the Traffic Police to ensure coordination and implementation.

Amenities for Commuters

In order to make the transport system user-friendly, many amenities for commuters are being introduced. Some of these are Help Line for bus, taxi and auto rickshaw passengers, a Unified Bus Time Table, route guide maps / folders, directory of chartered bus services, fare charts from point to point, more prepaid taxi/auto rickshaw booths and improved bus terminal designs and enhanced service standards at Inter State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) etc. Wherever feasible the needs of special groups like the physically challenged and senior citizens as well as economically weaker sections will be accommodated by encouraging user friendly technologies for access and seating as well as concessional passes on mass transport. Training programmes are also being planned for drivers of buses, mini buses and autos to make them responsive and helpful to commuters.

Time Frame

The time frame for the action plan to be implemented is outlined in Annexure.

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Annexure

ACTION PLAN

TASKS FOR TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, GNCTD

Annexure

ACTION PLAN

INTER - AGENCY COORDINATION

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

The salient features of the report are summarized in Chapter V : The Proposed Road Map.

The main recommendations are:

a. Public Transport Policy

Inter-se priority should be accorded in descending order to:

• Mass transport,
• Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) namely bicycles, cycle-rickshaws, pedestrians etc.,
• Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) namely auto-rickshaws, taxi etc., and
• Personalized motor transport

b. Priority bus lanes be immediate implemented on five identified corridors.

High Priority Corridors for Bus Priority Schemes

These five priority corridors have been selected out of fourteen identified corridors where such schemes could be introduced in a phased manner.

•  Financial implications : Rs.250 crores
•  Planning period : 6 to 9 months
•  Final Implementation period : Within 1 year

c. Electric Trolley Bus (ETB) should be implemented on following corridors:

• Financial Implications : Rs.160 Crores*
• Planning Period : 1 year
• Final Implementation period : Within 2 years

* An ETB has a carrying capacity of about hundred passengers and an average load factor of about 55%.

** The total cost of the project will include electrical power supply, a collection system and maintenance depot, modification to road surface, existing electricity poles and other utility services and signals at intersections. The Trolley Bus itself costs approximately Rs.60-70 lakhs at April 2002 prices.

*** The total capital cost of a modern ETB including modifications to fixed infrastructure for dedicated bus ways, has been tentatively estimated at Rs. 5 Crores per route km. O&M cost per passenger, however, is much lower than metro (and even a regular bus) and works out to 69 paise per passenger km.

d. LRT with a narrow vehicle of say 1.8 to 2.0 m width appears to be an appropriate choice of mass transit for the narrow roads in the walled city of Delhi (Chandni Chowk � Khari Baoli � Shraddha Nand Bazaar � Delhi Gate � Chawri Bazaar area). A tram system (an earlier version of LRT) was operating in this area some time back.

If taken up, a feasibility study for implementation of LRT for the walled city will be necessary. After preparatory works have been completed and feasibility ascertained, the actual implementation is likely to take two years.

•  Financial implications : Rs.150 Crores
•  Planning period     : 1 year (after establishing feasibility)
•  Implementation period : 2 years

e. An integrated Metropolitan Transport Authority (IMTA)should be set up not only for setting fares and tariffs but also to provide provisioning and common services for bus, metro and commuter rail as well as IPT modes. There should be one authority for all modes of transport.

f. Pending the setting up of IMTA, a Delhi Transport Planning Group (DTPG) should be constituted. The DTPG may be supported by a technical cell of qualified and trained professionals from all concerned departments.