The collection of data on roads suitable for bus rapid transit system (BRTS) to realise the goal of ‘zero traffic congestion’ on bus routes has started.
As part of a presentation on reducing traffic congestion made to the committee headed by Justice Chitra Venkataraman on Monday, the Chennai Corporation, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority had identified routes suitable for implementing a bus transit system similar to that of Ahmedabad.
BRTS figured prominently at the meeting as part of attaining the goal of ‘zero traffic congestion.’ Some of the Corporation’s engineers have already visited such cities to implement BRTS.
“Roads with a width of 30 metres will be used for BRTS. Some roads can be widened to 30 metres for commissioning such infrastructure,” said an official.
The Chennai Corporation and the MTC is likely to play a role in creating road infrastructure suitable for BRTS.
Plans for a southern BRTS network connecting areas such as Saidapet, Sholinganallur and Tambaram, and a northern network covering Koyambedu, Poonamallee and Madhavaram may be possible with simple changes to the existing design.
A BRTS connecting Kilpauk, Egmore, Nungambakkam and T. Nagar may also be possible following the commissioning of the integrated traffic infrastructure development plan connecting Ega Theatre junction and Thirumalai Pillai Road.
A study on shifting bus stops and on-street parking restrictions to suit the system in consultation with the MTC may also be taken up.
Key aspects of the system adopted in cities such as Guangzhou in China have also been reviewed for planning a BRTS in the city. As per the earlier Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study, a BRTS was planned to be implemented on Outer Ring Road, Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Road, Tambaram-Velachery-Taramani-Thiruvanmiyur Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai.
