The Hindu : MCH mulls bus service to go with MMTS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

MCH mulls bus service to go with MMTS

By J.S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD June 19. Now that the Multi Modal Transit System is fast heading for completion, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad is exploring the possibilities of extending its reach to unserved areas through a dedicated bus corridor. It is proposed to create a dedicated loop line for operating fast moving services under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, the international NGO which has designed mass transportation projects in countries like China, Taiwan, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador, Japan, New Zeland has selected Delhi and Hyderabad in India for the project. ITDP experts have already visited the city last month and are expected to come again for discussions. "Everything is still at the concept stage. We are examining the feasibility of the BRT project as an intermediate solution,'' said P. Randhir Reddy, Additional Commissioner (T&T), MCH.

As a pilot project it is planned to create a dedicated bus corridor from Nampally railway station to Maozamjahi Market, Abids and Koti. This will help the MMTS commuters to reach the key business districts without much loss of time after alighting at Nampally. The bus services will be operated at a three minute frequency to match the MMTS services.

If found successful, the scheme would be extended to select corridors elsewhere in the city, it is said.

Under the BRT project 10-foot stretch of road would be earmarked for operation of the buses. There would be specially designed "bus stations'' enroute. No other vehicle except the public transport services would be permitted to use this "reserved route'' so that there is a clear path all through and the travel time gets reduced, Mr. Reddy said.

All this is expected to give a boost to the MMTS as more and more people would be using it once they are confident of getting a quick bus connection after alighting from the train. Since the M.J. Market road is wide enough and the Abids-Koti stretch is one way, authorities do not see any problem in having a dedicated corridor here. Higher capacity buses with trailers might be used depending on the need.

In places like Quito in Ecuador and Nagoya in Japan the dedicated corridors are paved with a particular colour patch to give it a distinct identity. The MCH might also go for such a colour scheme.

To meet the transportation needs of the city in a most scientific manner, the MCH has launched an Origin and Destination survey recently. L&T Rambol and Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) have been entrusted with the job of evolving a comprehensive transportation strategy and to suggest appropriate solutions.

After 1984 the MCH has undertaken an exhaustive exercise now. For the purpose of the survey the urban area has been divided into 129 zones.

The data is expected to give a clear picture about the movement pattern and this will help in evolving specific solutions for specific areas, it is said.

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