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.
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