The Hindu : Metro will decrease bus traffic: Study

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 28, 2002

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Metro will decrease bus traffic: Study

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI NOV. 27. The war of words between the Centre and the Delhi Government may be making people apprehensive about the success of the upcoming Delhi Metro Rail project, but a study conducted on traffic and passenger projects in the Capital has revealed that in view of the progressive commissioning of various components of the Mass Rapid Transit System, a decrease in bus traffic is to be expected.

Engaged by KSHI JV through Maunsell for preparation of traffic integration and planning of the parking areas for the Metro Corridor areas of the Delhi Metro project, the Architects' Bureau in its report has stated that while the bus traffic will initially grow at 2.5 per cent per annum up to 2002, with the launch of the Metro it would start showing a continuous decline and reach 30 per cent of the current level by 2021.

That the Metro would primarily lure away users of private vehicles and slow-moving vehicles has also been aptly brought out by the report which stated that while the other traffic will increase at 2-5 per cent per annum up to 2002, it would record a 1.25 per cent growth thereafter. Also, the slow moving vehicles will progressively decrease to reach 0.5 per cent of current level by 2021.

The study has also delved into existing and projected traffic scenario at critical intersections such as ISBT Kashmere Gate, IP College and Delhi University. At ISBT -- where the underground Metro Corridor and elevated Rail Corridor would cross each other -- it has shown that while the peak hour passenger car unit traffic in 1999 was around 10,700 and would have been over 12,00 without Metro in 2021, due to the project it would stabilise at less than 10,000 in 2021.

As such the report has noted that with the commissioning of the Delhi Metro, traffic volumes on the road network would be affected due to reduction in bus component of vehicular stream, general growth of traffic volume comprised by fast and slow modes and traffic generated by MRTS and other projects in the pipeline.

It also indicated the passenger flows per minute in 2021 when the ISBT station is expected to have around 935 people boarding Metro trains every minute during peak time in the morning and 694 in the evening.

The study also taken into account the parking durations of public modes and vehicle occupancies of interchange trips which had found a mention in the DMRC Transportation Report of June 1999. Having analysed the parking at Delhi University, ISBT, Old Secretariat and Civil Lines, the report has also pointed out areas where traffic improvements were required.

For the purpose of traffic integration, the Bureau undertook review of existing studies and secondary studies undertaken with the influence area of MRTS corridor and made efforts to identify the key issues affecting the traffic flow. It also developed alternative circulation plans for the identified areas, evaluated the alternate circulation plans in accordance with the proposed development for the Metro, calculated the parking needs of the stations and assessed traffic movements and recommended traffic integration plans at the stations.

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