The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation has evolved a long-term conceptual plan for introducing a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the city.
The plan has been evolved in coordination with the Institute for Transportation and Policy Development (ITDP) and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), an international organisation offering support to local governments for sustainable development.
BRTS systems are being planned for Madurai, Tiruchi, Tirupur, Salem, and Coimbatore cities in Tamil Nadu. The project will be implemented with financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Urban Development. In November, city engineers of the five cities got down to the brass tacks to plan transit systems, pedestrian pathways, cycling tracks, at a two-day conference on ‘Sustainable Cities Through Transport’ held at Coimbatore. Recently, Corporation officials also attended a meeting in Chennai where the proposals were discussed. In a city known for its narrow and unplanned roads, indiscriminate encroachments, and burgeoning vehicle population, developing a BRTS is a must to handle the future transport requirements of the city, officials say. The project, which is planned to be implemented over the next five years, seeks to create pedestrian pathways, greenways, and cycle tracks apart from the BRTS.
Civic authorities are planning to introduce BRTS on two specific routes: Central Bus Stand to Srirangam and Central Bus Stand to K.K.Nagar routes. While the first runs for about 17 km, the second route runs for about seven km.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, said the project was aimed at ensuring equitable transportation by creating necessary infrastructure to reduce private vehicles on roads. A good and fast public transportation could reduce dependence on private vehicles. The project is based on the successful model implemented in Ahmedabad, Mr.Thandapani said.
The project also provides for creating exclusive bicycle lanes with 66 ‘cycle sharing stations.’ However, Mr.Thandapani clarified that the project was still in the conceptual stage and it could take time to reach the implementation stage.
