Chennai, Coimbatore selected as pilot cities to implement Strategic Mobility plans prepared by Centre

Chennai:

In a bid to have efficient low cost and low carbon transport solutions in the country, the Union Government has selected Chennai and Coimbatore to implement its Strategic Mobility Planning (SMP) for smart and sustainable urban transport solutions..

Sources reveal that a blueprint has been prepared for the cities which will create an urban transport system that addresses mobility needs of people in smart and sustainable way. The toolkit is an initiative by Niti Aayog and is in partnership with Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

The two cities, which have been nominated as pilot cities in Tamil Nadu, will provide safe and convenient facilities for non motorised transport such as walking and cycling which uses scarce road space.

The idea is to have a sustainable transport approach which focuses on mobility of people rather than movement of personal motor vehicles thereby improving the health, safety and environmental quality.

Sources reveal that the Centre has sent in the draft Strategic Mobility Planning Tool Kit for comments and observations to be made by the state. It is learnt that a high level meeting has being convened to discuss the proposal.

Under the Strategic Mobility Planning, the transport challenges within a city are identified and a strategic roadmap is prepared on of how conditions can be transformed if a city adopts a sustainable transport approach.

Focus would be given to low-cost and low-carbon mobility options which are key to providing mobility and access to opportunities I the two cities. Investments should reflect on real mobility needs of urban residents, the majority of who travel by public transport, paratransit, walking and cycling.

There are plans to integrate the informal public transport services such as autos, taxis, cabs, private city buses and mini buses with other services as they provide last mile connectivity.

This would mean the fares of autos will be regulated and the routes will be identified. Sources say that the idea is to track the price of inputs such as vehicle payments, petrol and insurance and work out a fare for autos which is affordable for customers and economically viable for drivers.

As per SMP, there is a proposal to have Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority besides proposals for pedestrian zones like the one proposed in Mylapore, greenways and parking management.

The SMP plans to do away with old school solutions like building flyovers and elevated expressways which are which it feels are not viable options. Instead of make using of personal motor vehicles simpler, cities should focus on making sustainable modes convenient, attractive and safe.

Factfile:

1. Public transport in Indian cities has been a failure as less than 20pc of workers use it in 33 of the 53 cities which were surveyed in 2011

2. National Urban Transport Policy introduced in 2006 was flawed as it focussed on moving vvehicles to moving people

3. In 38 of the 53 cities surveyed, 30pc of people go to work on foot or bicycle but the non-motorised infrastructure is neglected

4. Strategic Mobility Planning provides a blueprint to create an urban transport system that addresses mobility needs of people in cities

5. It provides safe and convenient facilities for non-motorised transport such as walking and cycling

6. It acknowledges importance of paratransit facilities like share autos, taxis and autos.

7. It stresses the need to regulate auto fares, taxi fares and also stresses on shared mobility