BOT News: UP highways on public-private-partnership model
May 10, 2013
Pankaj Shah, TNN
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh state government is in talks with potential bidders to develop 11 state highways, in what could be a big push to its mandate to develop road connectivity across the state.
It has been proposed that the highways will be developed by Uttar Pradesh State Highways Authority (UPSHA) on the public-private-partnership (PPP) model.
The prominent projects included the Shahjahanpur-Hardoi-Lucknow State Highway, Basti-Mehendawal-Tamkuhi road, Akbarpur to Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Dudhi Road, Gorakhpur to Maharajganj Road and Muzaffarnagar to Saharanpur via Deoband Road.
The state government has also clarified doubts of prospective bidders for the Agra to Lucknow green-field expressway. The ambitious access-controlled Agra to Lucknow six-lane, eco-friendly green-field expressway is to be constructed on a minimum distance and minimal agricultural land formula through the PPP mode.
Earlier on 24 April, the government held a pre-application conference for the Agra to Lucknow project in New Delhi where 15 prominent developers including GVK, GMR, ESSEL Infra and IL&FS Transportation, among others participated. The project will be developed at an estimated project cost of Rs 9,600 crore on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, for a 30-year concession period.
The Agra-Lucknow expressway expects to offer a smooth link between Greater Noida and Lucknow via Agra covering a distance of about 270 kms.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Govt’s pre-fixation with PPP not good for infrastructure: Parliamentary Panel
May 10, 2013
PTI : New Delhi, Sun May 05 2013,
Urging the government to come out of “pathological prefixation” with public-private-partnership (PPP) model, a Parliamentary panel has asked it to build through budgetary support all highways where bidders have failed to respond.
“PPP as a model for the development of road project needs to be reviewed seriously in the light of our experience so far in this regard. That private capital is mainly for profit is borne out by the fact that the profitable projects are being bid out fast,” Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has said in its latest report.
Committee Chairman and CPI-M MP Sitaram Yechury said: “Unfortunately the government has pathological pre-fixation with PPP which is hindering infrastructure development in the country as driven by the objective of profit, private sector is not coming forward to bid for unprofitable projects.”
Stressing upon the need for government’s thrust on infrastructure Yechury said: “No other country whether USA or China depended on private sector for building its infrastructure unlike India. Unfortunately the allocation has been reduced drastically for infrastructure as Planning Commission is encouraging private partnership.”
He said only such projects were bid out in the PPP mode where profit is envisaged, asking as to how there was no response for 13 bids invited by the NHAI last year. The report said that a vast country like India needed faster connectivity to its length and breadth and should “adopt an alternative model of project development which is development driven and not profit driven”.
It added: “Since profitable projects are sold out first, the government is facing problems in getting bidders for such non-profitable road projects as those in Left Wing Extremist and North-East Areas.”
Emphasising that India needs faster construction of roads, the Committee recommended that “all such projects without bidders should be developed with the budgetary support from the government and the Planning Commission needs to be more practical and careful about its role and function”. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had set a target to award projects for 7,464 km of roads during the last financial year, of which only projects worth 879 km could be awarded.
Source – http://www.indianexpress.com
Now recharge Metro smart card online
May 10, 2013
Arpan Rai/ New Delhi
DELHI Metro commuters will now be able to recharge their smart cards online using a credit or a debit card.
In a first for Capital’s public transport, Delhi Metro managing director Mangu Singh on Thursday launched an online recharge facility for Metro cards. Commuters will be able to check and validate their recharge via a touchscreen Ticket Reader- cum- Add Value machines currently installed at 13 Metro stations.
The machines will also provide commuters with information about the balance in the smart card, last recharge details and the last five entry- exit transactions.
About a hundred such machines will be installed in the coming month, said Singh. Metro commuters can top up their smart cards through www. delhimetrorail.com and www. dmrcsmartcard.com.
Source-http://epaper.mailtoday.in
End cycle of vulnerability
May 10, 2013
Atul Mathur , Hindustan Times
New Delhi,
A bicycle is one of most sought-after gifts among children. But once they are older, moving to new bikes and later cars is considered a natural transition. In Delhi, we often see cyclists jostling for space among cars, two-wheelers, buses and commercial vehicles. Statistics prove that they and the pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users.
A bicycle in India is considered a poor man’s commute. In the West and even some Asian countries, bicycles are one of the most popular modes of transport among the executive class. While in countries such as Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and China, 20-40% of the total trips are done on bicycles, this number in Delhi is less than 5%.
“Yes, carpenters and gardeners can use the bicycle, but not ‘us’ (officers or other members of the growing middle class),” observed Gerhard Menckhoff, principal urban transport specialist and consultant, World Bank.
“A RITES survey revealed that of all the journeys undertaken by Delhiites in a day, nearly 50% are less than 6km long. It infers that there is a lot of scope to promote cycling,” said Nalin Sinha, a transport expert and founder member of Delhi Cycling Club. The club is among a few organisations trying to make cycling and cycle-sharing popular.
Experts believe that in a city like Delhi, where people largely depend on their private vehicles to travel shorter distances, cycle and cycle-sharing can offer a reliable transport system. But Delhi lacks the basic infrastructure and atmosphere conducive for cycle enthusiasts to make that shift. No wonder that while the percentage of households that own two-wheelers and cars has jumped, cycle ownership has come down by few percentage points in the past decade.
“Cycles provide last-mile integration from source. Also, a good cycle parking infrastructure is required close to public transport. A good network of streets specially designed for non-motorised transport and provision for shorter connection is important,” said Anuj Malhotra, an expert in non-motorised traffic with Centre for Green Mobility.
Experts believe that Delhi is now passing through a phase seen by several European and American cities in the last decades of the 20th century. Earlier, of the 3.5 lakh people coming to Times Square in New York, 90% would drive cars. But in the past five years, New York has been transformed from a city of private vehicles to a bustling pedestrian and cycle-friendly city.
“The footpaths have been meticulously redesigned. There are traffic islands at strategic points for people to wait for vehicles to pass before crossing the road. Car parking has been designed in a way to keep cyclists and pedestrians away from the moving traffic,” said Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner, department of transportation, New York City.
“Providing adequate and safe walking and cycling infrastructure are the primary obligations of any city government and municipal authority. The government will have to spend only a fraction of its flyover or elevated road budget to develop these facilities,” Sinha said.
CASE STUDIES
He wants special bicycle lanes
Praveen Kumar, 21
Ashok Nagar resident
Every day, 21-year-old Praveen Kumar Sharma pedals for over three hours. His workplace, a small roadside car seat cover shop, at Kashmere Gate is nearly 12km from his home in east Delhi’s Ashok Nagar.
Kumar says not only does he save transportation expenses, cycling also helps him keep fit. “Of course, I’m physically fit because of this daily workout session. People pay thousands to go to a fancy gym and to cycle for a few minutes. I do it for free,” Sharma says, sporting a big smile. “Expenses are increasing day by day. Even if I save a few hundred rupees, it does help my family sustain in this otherwise expensive city,” said Sharma, who lives with his parents and brother.
But what about the daily rendezvous with destiny? Sharma smiles wryly and says it’s a risk he has to take. “Have you seen how people drive cars and motorcycles? They don’t care about other cars or motorbikes, leave alone cyclists like me. In the past six months, two motorcyclists have bumped into me. And the worst part is they accused me for the accident,” Praveen says.
Kumar, a native of Faizabad near Lucknow, has heard about specialised bicycle lanes in other cities of India and abroad and wishes that he and thousands like him too had such a facility here.
“Cycles get cowed down in front of bigger vehicles. Bicycle lanes will be of big help and will also help cut down transportation time,” he said.
Ritam Halder
Promoting non-motorised transport
Walk to work initiative
Gurgaon
One fine day, the CEOs and top executives of many of Gurgaon’s IT-BPO firms left their swanky cars behind and chose to walk or cycle to work. The reason: They wanted to promote non-motorised transport (NMT) in the city.
This ‘walk to work’ initiative was organised by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).
The initiative has sent the ball rolling on the issue. A resident group on NMT has already taken up with the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon the creation of suitable infrastructure such as cycling tracks and proper footpaths in the city. The group has been holding private workshops and pitching for NMT, as a result of which the corporation is now working on a NMT plan for Gurgaon.
Source –http://www.hindustantimes.com
Interview – Manfred Neun -President (ECF) : ‘Cycling is the fastest as well as easiest means of transport’
May 10, 2013
Atul Mathur, Hindustan Times
Manfred Neun is the president of European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) since 2005. He is a key figure in the world of global cycling advocacy. Excerpts from an interview:
Can cycling become equally popular in hot and humid cities of south Asia?
The Dutch say ‘there is no such thing as bad cycling weather, only bad clothing’. Cycling in a city is a low-level physical activity. You don’t need to sweat if you go peacefully as you would do for walking. When you look at the map of cycle-friendly European cities, you will find some in all climates — from the snowy north of Finland, to the hot south of Spain or the more continental Germany.
What efforts should the govt make to create an environment for cycling?
In Europe, the biggest trigger was political will. Once that is achieved, first focus on making cycling safe in the city. Develop a decent and safe network of cycle paths and other bicycle infrastructure, such as parking. And finally, promote it through several campaigns.
How can we integrate cycling with public transport?
Cycling and public transport benefit from each other. Bicycles increase the reach of public transport: The 10-minutes’ catchment area of a bus stop grows by 15 times with bicycles. For good integration, there should be bike parking provisions at main stations. It should be easy to take your cycle with you on public transport.
How beneficial are cycling-sharing systems?
Bicycle-sharing schemes are a cheap and efficient way to provide 24×7 public transport. They also give cycling a boost. Paris, for instance, saw an impressive rise in its use after their Velib bicycle-sharing system was introduced in 2007. Now 75,000 people use the service every day.
What are the benefits of cycling?
From an individual point of view, it saves you money, makes you healthier and saves time. But for the society, the benefits are even higher. Less cars mean less congestion, less pollution, and safer roads. Cycling infrastructure is also much cheaper. Surveys show that the main reason for cycling is convenience as bicycles are the fastest and easiest means of transport.
Source –www.hindustantimes.com
Faster bus travel spells more commuters
May 10, 2013
Hindustan Times
May 09, 2013
Hindustan Times
May 09, 2013
The traffic situation in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta was similar to our national Capital. With car growth rate greater than the increase in road capacity (1.6 million cars in 2005 with car ownership growing by 10% every year, road growth at 1%), fast urbanisation led to traffic congestion and longer commutes.
Indonesian authorities decided to implement a bus rapid transit system named TransJakarta, which began operations in January 2004. TransJakarta was designed to provide citizens a fast public transport to reduce rush-hour traffic.
The buses run in special lanes and ticket prices are subsidised. In 2011, TransJakarta carried 115 million passengers which was an increase of 32% from the 87 million passengers in 2010. Currently it has the world’s longest BRT routes (172 km in length). HTC
Transit-oriented development to change the way Delhi travels
May 10, 2013
“The area will be developed like a small township, with affordable houses, shopping complexes, school, etc. The Karkardooma Metro station will be the main component of transport, apart from the proposed rapid rail system and BRT,” a DDA official said.
The policy is being prepared by the DDA and the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). Once adopted, the TOD policy will be applicable to all Metro influence zones of the city, an area that amounts to about 19% of Delhi, including Phase III area. There are plans to involve the private sector in development of the influence zones.
While Delhi’s development has so far been on the ring and radial pattern with reliance on road-based public transport, under the transit-oriented development the commercial and residential complexes will come up within walking distance of mass rapid transit system (MRTS) network.
Curitiba in Brazil has already experienced some success with the policy. Even cities such as New York are working on this pattern. Amanda M Burden, commissioner (city planning) of New York, who was in Delhi a few months ago, said New York also faced similar challenges of growth and congestion. “Our new development is taking place next to the subway (metro). There are better spaces for cyclists and pedestrians. Every facility is at a walking distance from Metro. This model can be tailored according to Delhi’s needs,” Burden had told HT.
Wayforward
Integration of transit systems is the key
Tokyo
The Tokyo subway has 14 Metro lines that run through the length and breadth of the city. With its 328.8- km network and 282 stations, it connects every corner of the city and caters to almost nine million riders every day. Apart from the subway, Tokyo has a very strong and dedicated system for pedestrians and cyclists.
Kuala Lumpur
Kula Lumpur’s transport system is a perfect example of integrated transport network. RapidKL Rail or the monorail runs over a stretch of 8.6km through the central part of the city and connects office areas as well important markets. It caters to almost 20 million commuters a year.
The monorail integrates with Kuala Lumpur’s light rail transit system at three stations. The two corridors of LRT system run within a range of 50km in the city. KL Sentral station is a transport hub where the monorail, light rail and the fast speed airport link train have integrated stations.
The monorail is a two-coach train available every 5 minutes during peak hours and 10 minutes during lean hours
Source –http://www.hindustantimes.com
Case study: Now pay to park in apartment complex
May 8, 2013
New Delhi, May 08, 2013
Case study: Here parking is a luxury
May 8, 2013
Ritam Halder, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, May 08, 2013
Case study: Here parking is a luxury
Two prime spots in the Capital are doing their bit to discourage people from using their personal cars.
The parking lot at the Indira Gandhi International Airport can accommodate up to 4,300 vehicles. Yet its steep parking charges – Rs. 80 for half an hour, Rs. 160 for up to two hours, Rs. 80 for each subsequent hour and Rs. 1,050 for 24 hours – has been a deterrent for many.
But airport officials claim the tariff is not meant to discourage people from using cars. “Despite the best possible facility, parking charges here are still less,” an official said.
Recently, the airport began charging on even private cars waiting in the pick-up lane at the domestic terminal 1C after five minutes. After that, an overstaying charge of Rs. 100 is levied for the next five minutes and every subsequent five minutes mean shelling out Rs. 50.
The official said the system was meant to reduce congestion and manage traffic.
At AIIMS campus, one has to pay Rs. 100 for parking for up to four hours. After that, Rs. 15 has to be paid for every subsequent hour. So even if you park for 10 minutes, be ready to shell out Rs. 100.
For many family members of patients and their visitors, the charges came as a rude shock. “I had visited an ailing colleague for just 15 minutes and had to pay Rs. 100. Had I know how exorbitant the rates were, I wouldn’t have brought my car,” said Ritesh Sharma, a resident of Vasant Kunj.
According to AIIMS officials, the move aims at discouraging people to park in the premises.
“Due to the space crunch, we have kept parking charges high. This helps in decongestion,” said Dr YK Gupta, AIIMS spokesperson.
Source-www.hindustantimes.com
Traffic police, civic bodies must be more responsible
May 8, 2013
New Delhi, May 08, 2013
We need to limit the number of vehicles, or else the consequences will be grim. No development is possible if mobility is zero. Decongesting roads is of utmost importance and strengthening public transport is the
Parking rates hikes are meant to discourage people from using cars. A person needs parking spots at three places – home, roads and markets. If parking becomes more expensive, people will think of alternative options. Use of cars needs to be controlled.
A number of pavements are being used to park vehicles even inside colonies. Not only does it affect traffic movement, but it also makes pedestrians’ life difficult.
This is being done in gross violation of traffic rules. The Delhi Police is also discouraging this and the violators should be fined heavily. We should take a lesson from the Pune Municipality that fined Rs. 2,000 for any vehicle found parked on a footpath.
The parking mafia has been encroaching upon the city’s prime public land in the garb of parking lots. Why has no action been taken against them yet?
Once such a parking site is identified, we inform the traffic police and the civic bodies about them. We have constantly been directing them to take action against these people. Land is scarce and if we allow the land mafia to take over, what will happen to the city? The traffic police and civic agencies need to be more responsible.
Source- http://www.hindustantimes.com/
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