Title - Govt seeks metro speed for twin cities

BHUBANESWAR: While the state government is still exploring the feasibility of introducing mono-rail connecting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and high speed bus service in Bhubaneswar, the government on Wednesday sent a letter to the Union ministry of urban development seeking logistical support and funds to start an intercity metro rail service between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.Being christened 'mass rapid transit system' (MRTS), the proposal was mooted in 2008, sources said. "For the first time, we sent a letter to the Union ministry of urban development conveying the state's proposal to introduce MRTS. We have sought the Centre's help to prepare a detailed project report and arrange funds," special secretary of state housing and urban development department Sisir Ratho told TOI."While metro service is viable for a population of at least two million, the combined population of the twin cities is around 15 lakh, as per Census 2011. The MRTS has been formulated keeping in mind the demands of the two city's projected population of around 40 lakh by 2030," Ratho said. "The MRTS can provide transport solution by 2030," he added.

The development came two months after E Sreedharan, principal adviser of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), said it is difficult to run metro rails in Bhubaneswar alone given its small one million population as metro is expensive. He said cheaper alternatives like bus rapid transit system (BRTS) or high speed tramway system is suitable for the city.

Significantly, RITES, a central government enterprise dealing with transport and infrastructure, had in April, 2008 proposed to start mono-rail between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Mono-rail is a rail-based transport system on a single rail. The much-awaited project, which had since been stuck in limbo, saw light of the day a couple of months ago after the state government engaged Engineering Projects India (EPI), a public enterprise, to conduct a survey in this regard. Though EPIA made a presentation to the chief secretary, describing the monorail system as a technological innovation entailing many advantages for optimum flow of passengers, the state government is apprehensive about some congested lanes in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, which might pose roadblocks.

The proposed mono-rail is slated to boast sleek exteriors and air-conditioned compartments. Each mono-rail can contain two to eight compartments and the average time of travel is likely to be approximately two minutes per km.

Meanwhile, the proposed high speed bus service BRTS for Bhubaneswar gathered speed as the French government's Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD), which is likely to fund the proposed project, asked the state government to revise the detailed project report (DPR), prepared in 2009. Under BRTS, dedicated bus corridors would be identified to improve public transport system in the capital city.