Title - Metro will reduce traffic, accidents

Growing population and vehicles in the city has compelled the Chandigarh Administration to implement Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). Le Corbusier planned the city for 5 lakh population which has risen to 12 lakh officially. The Chandigarh Administration has been planning underpasses, removal of roundabouts, trams and other modes. But metro rail is the most practical solution for the city. Once known as abode for the employees and retirees, the city has changed rapidly and there is no alternative to metro rail to cope with the traffic hazarded, especially at the peak hours.

An urban development ministry report says that Chandigarh has a “zero congestion” index and the highest “walkablility” index of 0.91 in the country. The “city bus transport supply” index is only 17.54 as against 20 for Trivandrum and 43 for Delhi. The long trip length of an average of 14 kilometres and the average journey time in private mode of transport is between 5 minutes and 17.5 minutes. A majority of the trips here are short one; from 2.5 klimometre to 9.6 kilometres in length and about 80 per cent trips can be completed within just 15 minutes. Keeping in view the above observations the demand of 60-70,000 Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT) is justified whereas maximum traffic demand is estimated at 30,000 PHPDT by 2041.

The main reasons as to why IT and multi-national companies are not interested to invest in Chandigarh is the lack of International Air Port and metro for local travel. These are the basic needs for any multinational company to invest. This will not only bring the Chandigarh on the world map but also stop brain drain of the north. At present, well-qualified students have to go to Delhi, Pune, Bangluru from the north. Metro has become necessity not a luxury.

Kulbhushan Kanwar, Sector 48, Chandigarh

The Delhi model

The success of Delhi Metro Project has proved an impetus for other cities throughout the country. At present, at least 20 cities have jumped the bandwagon including Chandigarh. It was way back in the year 2000 that Local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal demanded Metro project for the city. Since then, the issue has remained a priority for the Chandigarh Administration as it is going to reduce pressure on the road infrastructure of the city. As per estimates, groundwork on the project was to commence this year but we are still at the planning level.

The Ministry of Urban Development gave an “in principle” decision to place the city on the Metro map in the year 2008. In the backdrop of this “in principle” decision, the ministry asked the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Administration to initiate the work on preparing detailed project report (DPR) for the massive rapid transport network. M Ramachandran, the then urban development secretary, had stated “the required approvals going through on time, the underground and elevated Metro for Chandigarh and adjoining areas will materialize in about five years.”

The project shall boost the already high quality of life and also cater to increase in population without putting more pressure on the road infrastructure. Projected to cover a distance of about 52.4 Km both underground and elevated, the project reports envisage seven corridors supported with Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), and commuter rail service (CRS). The Chandigarh Administration would initiate the project jointly with governments of Haryana and Punjab. The project outlay was estimated at Rs 150 billion.

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) was involved which rolled out a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) covering aspects of Metro routes, BRTS Corridors, parking space, revenue modes for the entire project. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been assigned the job of drafting a final report. The DMRC has quoted Rs 3 crores for the preparation of the DPR for the project, which it would submit in three months. Metro man, Sreedharan, has also held a meeting with officers of the administration, Punjab and Haryana to implement the plan on the ground.

The groundwork on the Metro project was expected to commence this year. But for reasons best known to the administration, the project has failed to take off. The finance department has to do a lot of brain storming session to mobiles funds that are required for the completion of the project. In a recent report, the administration has come out with a conclusion that underpasses in the city are not viable as several thousand crores would be needed to shift the underground sewerage and water pipes. This being the assertion, one is at a loss to understand how the administration shall manage an underground cover for the project that would run on 40.4 Kms.

Satish Chandra Sharma, chairman, Group Housing Cooperative Societies Welfare Council

Need of the hour

As the traffic in the tricity is increasing day by day, the metro rail system will bring a sigh of relief for the residents. The situation of traffic is worse in the morning and evening hours. With the increase in traffic the number accidents have also risen. The Metro Rail System seems to best solution to improve the traffic conditions. Besides controlling the heavy traffic, the Metro Rail System has other advantages as well. It will help people cut down the fuel costs by reducing consumption. It will also prove very economical to the people who are already struggling to make the ends meet by saving money as well as fuel. The pollution levels will decline due to less traffic and it will prove to be eco-friendly. Metro system will be a great comfort for the people as they can easily sit and reach their destination on time and do not need to drive around the city themselves. The Metro Rail System is the need of the hour for the city.

Isha Dahiya, Sector 2

Step in the right direction

It is indeed heartening news that the project, having crossed many bureaucratic hurdles, is now in the pipe line and will finally see the light of the day. When commissioned in the not very distant future, it will certainly take away much of the load from the crumbling public transport system, which as of now, leaves much to be desired.

Ultimate public satisfaction and commuters’ convenience must always remain upper-most in the minds of planners and designers at the inception stage itself, so that construction work proceeds smoothly and within a reasonable time frame. They must keep in mind the flaws in the much touted Delhi Airport metro case (which at present is closed) and should not repeat those mistakes, as will be known soon after the Inquiry report is out.

Aspirations of the public in general, and the daily commuters in particular, have naturally gone up as they see a considerable relief from traffic hazards less polluted environment, safe, cheaper and brief travel with less physical discomfort, once this service rolls out.

In order to fulfill the dreams of expectant citizens, the Chandigarh Administration, which at present is reportedly seized of the matter, will do well to raise an efficient wing within its ambit, to not only carry out this gigantic task, but to eventually run and maintain it smoothly, efficiently and above all meet public approval, unlike Chandigarh Housing Board-an arm of the Administration which has lost direction and earning the wrath of those very people for whose benefit it was initially raised.

SC Luthra, MHC Mani Majra

Viable alternative

In the present scenario, when the number of vehicles are increasing day by day and the existing roads fail to bear the burden, Metro Rail is the only viable alternative to cope with the ever increasing number of vehicles and to provide safe, fast and economical transport facility to the public. The Metro will take care of the transport requirements of the tricity and go a long way in helping maintain Chandigarh’s orderly appearance When the Metro Rail Project will be introduced, it will not only reduce the rush on the roads, but will also minimise the road accidents in which hundreds of people lose their lives every year. Metro Rail will also help in reducing the consumption of petrol and diesel by several thousands of litres every day. Not only this, there will also be significant reduction in the pollution which emanates from vehicles. While executing the underground Metro Corridors, emphasis should be laid on avoiding undue harassment to public. Safety of buildings, which fall on metro en-route, must be ensured. Smooth flow of traffic during the execution/construction of the project should be ensured by providing alternative routes. Steps should also be taken in advance for the construction of over-bridges / flyovers on all crossings en-route Metro Rail for the smooth movement of traffic.

Vineet Kapoor, Panchkula

Relief for tricity

The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) will prove to be a boon for tricity residents as well as the residents of neighbouring states. The density of traffic in the Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali has increased manifolds in recent years. The increasing traffic on city roads has serious effects on urban ecosystems, especially due to the increased atmospheric pollution and changes in land use patterns. A lot needs to be done to curb the problem. The implementation of Metro Rail Project is the need of the hour. It will definitely lead to significant reduction in traffic congestion, reduction in air pollution, time saving to passengers, reduction in accidents and fuel saving. Metro Rail has changed the picture of mega cities and large areas of the tricity should be covered under the project. Other than Metro Rail, the construction of a flyover will prove to be a boon for the residents of tricity. It will cut down the traffic from the roads and will ease congestion. Other measures to fight traffic chaos are carpooling for schools and offices, encouraging use of two-wheelers, better Public Transportation System; and installation of Traffic Signals at round-abouts. Also, key roads should be widened for free movement of vehicles.

Shruti K. Chawla, Sector 38, Chandigarh

Easier solution

My suggestion is that we should start with monorail system to control the immediate problem of growing traffic. Because we do not have to dig and it will be installed faster. In first phase, we should go for monorail and than for Metro system. Amit Gulati Industrial Area Chandigarh