Now layout or neighbourhood schemes should have provision for bus bays

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Now every layout or neighbourhood schemes should have provision for road bus bays, according to a new guideline issued by Chennai Metropolitan Development authority.

The decision to implement the new guidelines has been ordered in the wake of executive committee of Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority suggesting CMDA to consider imposing conditions and making provisions for integrating public transport with area development by providing road bus bays while approving neighbourhood schemes.

At present while designing the layouts, the provision for road bus bays are not being provided. Sources say that these are essential amenities to be created in any neighbourhood development to facilitate public transport.

Interestingly, the CMDA order states that the optimum walking distance for accessing the bus stop is 500 metres. Hence it is suggested that provision of off road bus bays may be insisted in roads with width of 12 metres and above to facilitate bus movement while designing and approving layouts and neighbourhood developments and such road bus bays are to be provided at equal interval of 500 metre in roads with width of 12 metre and above, the order stated.

Interestingly, the development regulations of the second master plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area has laid out the regulations to be adhered for approval of layouts and neighbourhood developments. The regulation include creating a hierarchy of roads, depending on the road length and intensity and intensity of developments in the area and providing adequate linkages to the existing roads and proposed roads in the masterplan or detailed development plan.

M G Deivasahayam, Managing Trustee of the Chennai-based Citizens Alliance for Sustainable Living (SUSTAIN) and planners welcomed the move by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and said CMDA should also implement the guidelines in other schemes also.

However, planners say the government should implement the guidelines after having discussion with stakeholders and also bring in a detailed guideline on how it will be implemented.