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Shri S.Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Urban Development stated that Government is committed towards improving the levels of Urban Public Transport with the view to reduce the use of private transport, Pollution and congestion. Therefore Government is encouraging public transport by hugely financing Metro Rail projects in big cities and low floor & semi low floor AC, Non AC buses in small cities which provide the Metro experience in terms of Comfort efficiency and punctuality. This was stated by the Minister while inaugurating the 2nd Urban Mobility India Conference – 2009, 3rd to 5th Dec, here today.

He further mentioned that the investment from Government is prioritized for public transport, pedestrianisation and non motorized transport. Accordingly, the Ministry is financing Metro Rail Project in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai on joint ownership pattern. Mumbai is implementing Metro Rail Project on PPP. Hyderabad and Kochi Metro are in the pipeline, he added.

Shri Reddy informed that BRTS has also been taken up in 9 Mission cities in Jaipur, Indore, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam, Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad and Surat under JNNURM for a total length of 422 kms at a total cost of about Rs.4800 crore. He said that Under the Second Economic Stimulus Package, for the first time, the Government decided to provide financial assistance to States and cities for purchasing of buses under JnNURM. Under the Scheme 15,260 modern Intelligent Transport system buses have been sanctioned for 61 Mission cities, thus covering entire India. He mentioned that these modern buses, wherever already introduced, have completely redefined the image of the bus and that of public transport in India. All these buses are being procured as per the Urban Bus Specifications prepared by the Ministry of Urban Development.

Shri Reddy said that as a result of the initiative of the Ministry excise duty has been reduced from 16 to 8% which should be further reduced to 0% in order to reduce the cost of modern buses.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. M.Ramachandran, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development said that urban transport has emerged as one of the prime areas of focus of planning and implementation. He said that to shift the focus from dis-integrated planning for urban transport to comprehensive planning from whole to part, all cities have been mandated to prepare Comprehensive Mobility Plans. To support this activity, the Government of India has launched a new scheme for Central Financial Assistance upto 80% for taking up various studies relating to preparation of Comprehensive Mobility Plan, land use and transport planning, launching of awareness campaign, Clean Development Mechanism etc. He informed that for preparation of Detailed Project Reports, 50% financial assistance is being provided by the Central Government. Many States/cities including Police department from Madhya Pradesh have come forward to take advantage of this scheme.

The Secretary mentioned that Ministry has supported Metro Rail Projects in the country in a big way. Nearly 80 kms of Metro Rail Project in Delhi with extension even upto NOIDA is under operations. Another more than 100 kms is under construction and likely to be commissioned by September, 2010. In addition, Metro Rail Projects in Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai are also being supported by Government as joint ownership models with the concerned State Governments. In order to facilitate the learnings across various Metro Authorities in the country, the Secretary informed that the Ministry has started the Annual Consultation Meeting of all Metro administrations w.e.f. 2008 and second Annual Consultation Meeting was held on 04th May, 2009. “ It has also been decided that every year on 04th May, Annual Consultation Meeting of all the Metros in the country would be held”, he said.

Referring to the BRTS which has been found to be quite cost effective option which is also scalable and flexible, he informed that a Booklet containing features of BRTS development in all these cities has been prepared by Ministry of Urban Development and circulated to all concerned for the information and guidance.

TFK/KS
(Release ID :55125)