Aiming to achieve hassle-free traffic flow in future, the Union Territory government has decided to chalk out a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for all categories of road-users.
Recently, the government signed an agreement on evolving a CMP with an eye on future traffic needs with the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Limited (DIMTS), New Delhi.
“The preparation of CMP involves field surveys and we propose to start the process shortly. The objective behind the preparation of plan is to have desirable accessibility and mobility pattern for people and goods in region,” S.D.Sundaresan, Transport Commissioner told The Hindu.
A study of this nature and scale is a first for the Union Territory.
According to the Transport Department, the Union Territory of Puducherry is one of the most highly urbanised territories in the country and ranked fifth in terms of urbanisation (68.33 per cent). It has 8.2 lakh registered motorised vehicles as per the State Register of vehicles. The availability of attractive social and physical infrastructures in the Union Territory draws migrant populations from hinterlands resulting in increase in the traffic and transportation problems, especially in the urban areas of Puducherry. At present about 60,000 vehicles are added to the already congested roads every year.
As the average trip length of travel on a given day for a road user is around 6.5 km, the mobility of the citizens is predominantly through private modes. This has considerably reduced the average speed on the road corridors. Road accidents average about 1,500 per year in the last five years and claim over 200 lives annually.
The Transport Commissioner said the CMP for Puducherry would be put together as per the guidelines of Ministry of Development.
Transport officials said that the CMP would pave the way for improved mobility for all socio-economic groups and genders, raise levels of safety and security for pedestrians and non-motorised travellers as well as reduce pollution levels and ensure sustainable growth.