ITS and Road Safety Forum Qatar 2013, 16-18th Sept, St. Regis Hotel Doha
June 27, 2013
Effectively integrating Intelligent Transport Systems and safety measures to enable smarter use of transport networks
Following the success of the ITS and Road Safety Forum Qatar 2012, where global leaders in the ITS and road safety industry came together in Qatar to uncover the latest project updates and industry developments, we are pleased to bring the event to Qatar again for 2013. The 2012 forum was opened by HE Eng. Nasser Al Mawlawi, President of Public Works Authority, Ashghal, which was attended by more than 300 international and local executives who are shaping the future of ITS and road safety in the region.
With Qatar allocating approximately US$12.5 billion on improving and creating road networks, Qatar Public Works Authority, Ashghal is focussed on implementing sophisticated Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in order to provide a multimodal, safe, efficient and sustainable transport network. Qatar Public Works Authority, Ashghal have demonstrated their commitment to the delivery of safe road infrastructure through the integration of state-of-the-art technologies and transport systems and the launch of their ITS Masterplan project which will be delivered before 2017 and must include sustainable and adaptable solutions in advance of 2022.
Further to the ITS Masterplan, the Qatar National Road Safety Strategy which was recently launched, confirmed Qatar’s dedication to improving the performance and safety of Qatar’s road network. The ten year National Road Safety Strategy provides a long term vision to enhance road safety and reduce traffic accidents in Qatar. It aims at minimising the number of road accidents and reducing the annual road crash fatalities and serious injuries in the state. This will be covered in detail at this year forum which will be streamed into separate ITS and Road Safety streams.
ITS and Road Safety Forum Qatar 2013 will highlight key solutions to the latest challenges in the Middle East’s transportation and infrastructure industries, including;
- Adopting a holistic approach to ITS to ensure all networks operate efficiently
- Incorporating state of the art traffic management systems to improve levels of safety
- Enhancing communication networks to improve traffic flow and congestion
- Integrating ITS into public transport networks to offer a viable alternative mode of transport
- Delivering a world-class urban transport network which meets international standards.
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Contact person:
Ms Husaina Nasir +971 4 364 2975 [email protected]Chembur will be as high profile as Worli: UPS Madan , MMRDA commissioner
June 26, 2013
MMRDA commissioner says transport infrastructure projects in Mumbai will improve quality of life and reduce stress
The major reason behind cost and time overruns is getting right of way for developing these projects and rehabilitating people, says Madan. Photo: Santosh Harhare/Hindustan Times
To reduce accidents, DTC bus drivers to train on simulator
June 26, 2013
Subhendu Ray, Hindustan Times
To ensure safe driving and to bring down the number of accidents, Delhi Transport Officials (DTC) officials on Monday decided to train its drivers on simulators.
The decision comes a day after HT’s report on how the public transport buses in the Capital are on a killing spree. The DTC buses have killed 32 people this year till June 15. The corresponding figure for the same period last year was 27.
A team of senior DTC officials met on Monday to discuss measures for driver sensitisation. The training will be provided to the drivers in batches.
“We have proposed to make simulator training mandatory for DTC drivers and conductors. The training will help them learn road norms, adverse impact of speeding, jumping traffic signals and lane violations,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic).
According to DTC officials, the Automobile Association of Upper India, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Institute of Driving Training and Research will help in the training.
DTC has no such facility and a proposal to install heavy vehicle simulators has been under consideration for the past few years.
The DTC had tied up with an Indian automobile manufacturing giant to develop a state-of-the-art training institute with hi-tech simulators for to train drivers.
A site for the institute was identified in West Delhi. “However, the project got stuck as the DDA declined to change the land use since it was a green land,” a DTC official said.
The traffic police have also asked the DTC to check records of their drivers, many of whom drove blueline buses before they went off the roads.
Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com
Modern tram fails to woo passengers
June 26, 2013
By Soudhriti Bhabani in Kolkata
IT’S a part of Kolkata’s rich heritage, yet the vintage tram has failed to attract tourists and passengers in its new, modernised avatar. The state tourism and transport department jointly introduced an AC tram coach with modern comfort and facilities. The initiative, aimed at promoting Kolkata tourism as well as revive the 130- year- old tram system, has been a disappointment as far as ticket sales are concerned. Christened as ‘ Heritage Tour’, the 22- passenger capacity AC tram service was kicked off on Wednesday last. The tram is scheduled to run five days a week, barring Monday and Thursday, twice daily. While it runs for two hours — from 7 am to 9 am — in the morning, its evening run is shorter, around one- and- a- half hours, between 5pm and 7 pm. In the morning it runs from Esplanade to Shyambazar through College Street area and in the evening it plies from Esplanade to Khidirpur. After the official launch, the AC tram remained in the depot for two days owing to bleak response from passengers. On Saturday, when the AC tram finally started its first journey, most of the seats were lying vacant. The response remained poor even on Sunday with only a few passengers hopping on to the AC coach for a heritage ride. A ride on the AC tram costs ` 260 per person and includes breakfast if it’s a morning journey and snacks if one is travelling in the evening. According to sources, the Calcutta Tramways Co get ` 60 per passenger and the remaining amount goes to the state tourism department. Named ‘ Choruibati’, the AC tram cost the tourism department ` 20 lakh and its publicity and ticket booking is being handled by IRCTC, which would soon start online ticket booking for the heritage ride. The CTC is not disheartened with the lack of interest from passengers. “ The initial response has been slow but we are expecting it to improve in the days to come. We are trying popularise it. We also plan to introduce four more AC trams in Kolkata by the end of the current financial year,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain. Ride on the AC tram costs ` 260 per person and includes breakfast if it’s a morning journey and snacks if one is travelling in the evening.
http://epaper.mailtoday.in/epaperhome.aspx?issue=2562013
Skywalks, separate lanes promised
June 24, 2013
Rumu Banerjee, TNN |
Govt wants fresh plan for better traffic at ISBT
June 24, 2013
TNN |
NEW DELHI: With plans of turning the ISBT Kashmere Gate area into an integrated transit terminal, the Delhi government has asked DIMTS (Delhi integrated multi-modal transit system) to come up with a plan to improve the movement of motorized and non-motorized or pedestrian traffic in the area .
“The integration of ISBT with the Delhi Metro, and later with the regional rapid transit system will lead to traffic at ISBT intersection. We need to streamline this traffic,” said a senior official.
The DIMTS plan is the first phase of the traffic management plan.”A long term proposal for multi-modal integration of the entire complex will be implemented by UTTIPEC later. That will provide seamless travel to commuters for interchanging modes and safe crossing of roads,” said the official. The first phase will look at smoother movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the Lala Hardev Sahai marg after retrofitting of the road. The project has been given approval by UTTIPEC, the umbrella transport body.
The traffic circulation plan was mooted some months ago when the chief secretary had visited ISBT for inspection when it was about to re-open after renovation. At the time, he had ordered a traffic study of the area. The traffic from Ring Road, ISBT flyover, Mahatma Gandhi Road and surrounding areas tends to converge in front of the ISBT.
Officials in the transport department admit that the traffic situation is dire at ISBT despite the crores spent on renovating the bus terminus, with matters set to become worse as the work on the Kashmere Gate Metro station also gets underway. The traffic situation is one reason why the RRTS (regional rapid transit system) project, which had one station in Kashmere Gate ISBT, has been denied approval by the CM, said officials.
“The vehicular traffic is very high here, as it’s an arterial road along with the traffic from the inter-state buses coming in,” said a department official.
Expedite implementation of ITS, Rajan tells PMC
June 24, 2013
TNN |
During the meeting, he discussed issues concerning encroachments on footpaths and roadsides, procurement of additional buses by PMPML, smooth functioning of all traffic signals, and implementation of the pay and park system for vehicles.
Municipal commissioner Mahesh Pathak, police commissioner Gulabrao Pol, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare, and PMPML chairman and managing director Ramchandra Joshi were also present at the meeting.
The implementation of the intelligent traffic system has been delayed for over four years. The system, to be developed at a cost of Rs 16 crore, was to be made operational before the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008. However, it has failed to take off due to various reasons.
The system, which is ready for use, can detect traffic signal violations. It can also help in operations of bus rapid transit system. It has a surveillance system.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said it has decided to appoint a private agency for managing the ITS. PMC has already invited bids for the same.
“The process of appointing the agency should be completed as soon as possible,” Rajan said, adding that authorities should also expedite the proposals of construction of flyovers at Ghorpadi and Lullanagar.
A proposal to decentralize the operations of the state transport bus service also came up during the meeting. The officials also discussed whether the open spaces of all octroi posts should be given for state transport bus operations.
Rajan has directed the civic authorities to expedite the proposals of construction of flyovers at Ghorpadi and Lullanagar.
The review meeting with officials of all concerned departments is held every month as per the directions of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
The buses move from busy arterial roads in the city, thus, causing traffic congestion at the Swargate and Shivajinagar terminals.
Motor Vehicle Department rolls out e-payment facility
June 24, 2013
Chief minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the facility in the presence of transport minister Aryadan Mohammed, K Muraleedharan MLA and department officials in a function held here on Monday. The facility is now available in all the 73 regional transport offices and public can utilize either directly or from the Akshaya centres. The department had started the online facility in Thiruvananthapuram city transport offices in September, 2011 and successful trial run and warm response from the public prompted the department to widen the network of the facility.
Delivering the presidential address, tourism minister said 45,000 transactions take place in the department on an average every day and with just 1,900 officers, it has become difficult for the department to accelerate the services to people.
“The service not only will save the valuable time of public, but also bring transparency to the activities of the department, which is facing many allegations of bribery and malefactors,” he said.
The minister Rishi Raj Singh, who took charge as the transport commissioner just before the inauguration of e-payment facility, suggested to deploy maximum officers on field as computerized services will reduce workload on them.
Currently, account holders of SBT and SBI can avail the facility and the transport commissioner said the facility will be thrown open to other bank account holders soon.
Now, take your traffic woes directly to MVD
June 24, 2013
K M Sree, TNN |
KOZHIKODE: The Motor Vehicle Department has embarked on a fresh mission to ensure public participation in curbing traffic rule violations. Public complaint redressal cells have been opened by officials of the department in addition to the official crackdown on erring vehicles across the state.
The new system, introduced following a directive issued by Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh, enables the public to submit grievances online or directly call on the mobile numbers of officials. Besides, proposals for improving road safety may also be submitted to the redressal cells.Citizens may submit complaints directly to the deputy transport commissioner ([email protected]/ 9447218470) or RTO Kozhikode ([email protected]/ 8547639111). The complainant can also directly approach the Transport Commissioner ([email protected]/ 9446033314) if action is not taken in a month’s time.
“It is not possible to curb road rule violations merely by official vigilance. Public participation is a key element in creating awareness on the need for observing road rules,” said Kozhikode RTO Rajeev Puthalath. The new system, complaint redressal cell has already been set up at Kozhikode, he added.
Information on unfit vehicles especially stage carriage vehicles, excess fare charged by auto-taxi drivers, verbal abuse by private bus crew and all sorts of offences can be reported to the complaint cell. Complainants are requested to give specific information regarding the complaint including the registration number of the vehicle, place of occurrence and other details.
Under the new system, each cell will maintain a complaint register to record the complaint, progress of investigation and action taken. At present, we take action on receiving complaints and settle the issues but register books are not maintained in Regional Transport offices, the official said.
The Motor Vehicle Department has also intensified drive against drunken driving and use of mobile phones. Instead of issuing notice and collecting fines, MVD officials have now taken to suspending the licence of persons found using mobile phones while driving. Drunken drivers also get their licence suspended as part of the strict enforcement of road laws.
While, 313 persons have had their licence suspended for drunken driving in Kozhikode city alone in the past one month, the number of persons who had their driving license suspended for using mobile phone crossed 50 last month.
Apart from the formation of complaint redressal cells we have also decided to intensify drive against the misuse of red number plates for vehicles. “We have found that many vehicles used by semi-government organizations and cooperative institutions have been using red boards for their vehicles and action would be initiated against such vehicles,” the RTO said. A drive to nab such automobiles was launched recently and 10 vehicles were fined for using such red boards illegally, during a three day drive that concluded on Friday, the officials said.
Development body moots infrastructure projects
June 24, 2013
TNN |
Among the key projects that will be undertaken by the agency include a multi- level car parking at Link Road and four- laning of the Kallayi Road from Palayam to Meenchanda.
The CDA has also proposed implementing an ambitious urban re-construction project at Veliyangadi and urban renewal project at SM Street, apart from development of a godown complex at Beypore as part of its action plan.
CDA chairman N C Aboobacker, told the media that the authority will take over the multi-level car parking project at Link Road, which has been initiated by the Kozhikode corporation.
“Lack of parking spaces has become a major problem in the commercial hubs of the city. CDA will set up a multi-level car park with a capacity to accommodate over 100 vehicles along with a commercial complex in the 21 cents it has near the Link Road under a PPP(public-private partnership) model. The corporation has already inked a BOT(build operate transfer) agreement with a company called Yennavees for the project, which will now be implemented by the CDA,” he said.
The project envisaging four-laning of the 4km stretch of Kallayi Road from Palayam to Meenchanda has been taken up as the widening of the road to 24m is vital for the Kozhikode monorail project. CDA said that the existing project to widen the road from Palayam to Francis Road Junction will be extended till Meenchanda considering its criticality for the monorail project.
“The authority will ensure that the shops and business establishments affected by the project will be provided premises near the widened road as part of the rehabilitation package,” CDA secretary AM Jayan said.
CDA authorities said that final decision on the funding of the projects would be made only after the constitution of the executive committee of the CDA, which will be completed soon. “Most of the proposed projects would be either through PPP or BOT model. The authority is also expecting grants from the state government and intends to raise funds from its own assets,” a CDA official said.
Among the other projects in the pipeline include development of busy road junctions in the city. It will also look into the possibility of setting up an international sports complex.
The state government had earlier this year revived the CDA, which was disbanded by the LDF government on March 31, 2007 and ordered the transfer of CDA assets held by the corporation to the revived authority.
The CDA assets include eight shopping complexes in the city, a godown in Beypore and land at key locations.
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