Japan plans to make Chennai’s transport system smarter

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai is also on the radar of Japan International Cooperation Agency to develop and implement Intelligent Transport System to relieve congestion and improve safety in the roads, according to sources.

Sources said officials of JICA are in talks with Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority to implement ITS in the city. The Intelligent transport system are advanced applications which aim to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable various users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and ‘smarter’ use of transport networks.

Meanwhile, Japan is already providing assistance for the

Introduction of Intelligent Transport System on Road Network in Hyderabad Metropolitan Area” under the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road Project Phase 1 and II.

Interestingly, JICA had undertaken a separate data collection survey on the Introduction of ITS to the Urban Transportation of nine major cities in India. Sources said the pilot project for ITS is planned to be implemented through the JICA fund under the Hyderabad ORR project. This ITS Master Plan for Hyderabad is first of its kind initiative in the Indian context. JICA is

also keen to extend such assistance to other cities in India.

Meanwhile, the work on Rs 3,500 crore industrial township near Chennai is progressing smoothly.  Shinya Fuji told Express that the Omega project is likely to come in 1,500 acres of land in the Old Mahabalipuram Road. The agreement was signed between Tamil Nadu industrial investment facilitating agency, the Guidance Bureau, Ascendas and a Japan consortium comprising Mizuho Corporate Bank, JGC Corporation, a programme management contractor and investment partner, said Fuji.  JGC project manager Haruyuki Shimura who is handling the project refused to divulge any details about the satellite township project.