A cogent green public transport that takes into consideration the needs of pedestrians and even the ubiquitous auto-rickshaws was necessary for the city, observed Speaker of the A.P. Legislative Assembly, N. Manohar, on Friday.
Stating that cities were the engines of growth and the public transport was its engine, the Speaker pointed out that clarity of vision was needed as most cities were facing the common problems of rapid urbanisation. While the metro rail will make lives more comfortable, he felt that it has to be ‘packaged’ with other modes of transport including bus, land rail, autos and bicycles.
Mr. Manohar was the chief guest at the South Zone conference of the Institute of Town Planners, India, with the theme of ‘Sustainable solutions to tackle congestion for better liveable city’.
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The Minister for Municipal Administration, M. Maheedhar Reddy, wanted the urban planning to facilitate growth with ‘implementable’ master plans. The tendency to allow land use changes even after the Master Plan is notified should be avoided.
His Principal Secretary B. Sam Bob too spoke on the same vein and said though land use changes were needed even after a Master Plan is notified, it should be only under exceptional circumstances. His colleague, Principal Secretary (R&B) S.P. Singh recounted the story behind the successful grounding of the biggest ever metro rail project on the public, private partnership mode.
Proper planning was the answer for tackling traffic issues and mobility in cities rather than blame GHMC or Traffic police. Cities now compete globally for investments, he said, underscoring the need to prepare for more population influx into urban areas.
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“Phase one of metro project is just the beginning as there are going to be more lines and routes,” he said. ITPI President D.S. Meshram, Secretary General Pradeep Kapoor, A.P. Chapter Chairman K. Anand Babu and Hon.Secretary K. Purushotham Reddy, also spoke.