Government emphasizes implementation of multi mode of public transport AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN URBAN MOBILITY PRESENTED
	18:55 IST

Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State for Urban Development has advocated Multi mode of public transport saying that cities with different density of population should go for different mode of public transport. He was delivering Valedictory address at the three day National Conference on JNNURM and Urban Mobility India 2008, here today. He further mentioned that every city should have City Mobility Plan and it has to be carefully implemented. The commuters should have easy accessibility to Bus stops and Metro stations and there should be adequate parking space at important junctions from where people can jump to public transport after leaving their personal vehicles, he added. The Minister also emphasized on protecting and promoting Bus Rapid Transport system (BRT) to face the future challenges in the field of Urban Transport. He mentioned that public transport needs to be subsidized so that more people may shift to the public transport. Shri Maken also informed that proposals for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Indore, Jaipur, Pune / Pimpri-Chinchwad, Surat, Rajkot, Vijaywada and Vishakhapattnam have been approved under JNNURM Scheme of the Ministry at an estimated outlay of Rs. 4510 crore covering 409 kms. with Central financial assistance of Rs.  2065 crore.  To facilitate integration of land use and transport planning, the Minister said that the Government has recently approved a scheme for providing 80% central financial assistance for taking up traffic and transportation studies, surveys, comprehensive mobility plan, preparation of detailed project reports (50% in case of DPR for MRTS), etc.  Highlighting the progress of DMRC, the Minister mentioned that Delhi MRTS Phase-I consisting of 65 kms. has already been completed at a total cost of Rs. 10571 crores.  Delhi MRTS Phase-II and its extension for about 125 km at a total cost of Rs. 19,000 crore is in progress.  He said that Metro Rail Projects have also been approved for Bangalore, Kolkata on DMRC pattern and for Mumbai and Hyderabad on PPP pattern, and are in different stages of progress. The metro project for Chennai is under advance stage of consideration. Shri Maken said that States and UTs have been advised for implementation of the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006.  Accordingly, some States have taken lead in implementation of the policy as detailed below: - City bus service on PPP model have been introduced/is being introduced in Bhopal, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jullunder, Ludhiana and Jaipur.  Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) has been set up for Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Mumbai.  In Hyderabad, it is backed by legislation also.  Two cities namely Surat and Pimpri-Chinchwad have set up a dedicated fund for urban transport.   With technical assistance from Ministry of Environment, Land & Sea, Govt. of Italy,  that a DPR has been prepared on Intelligent Transport System (ITS) applications for sustainable mobility in Delhi.   Further, AITS India, has proposed a Pilot Project for Messaging based traffic solutions for Delhi which is fully financed by private party for pilot phase.  This project is under advance stage of approval in consultation with traffic police and MTNL. The Minister also gave away the awards for excellence in the field of Urban transport to the cities. The Award winning cities are as under: An Awards Evaluation Committee was constituted with the approval of Secretary (UD) to evaluate entries for awards for excellence in urban transport during the Conference. Surat Municipal Corporation for best PPP initiative in Urban Transport Project IIT Guwahati for Dipbahan Rickshaw Bank Project for Best Cycle-Rickshaw / Cycle Transport Project Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for best transit projects (BRTS / Metro / LRT etc.) Surat Municipal Corporation for Best Environment Friendly Project Bangalore City Traffic Police for best Intelligent Transportation System Project Pune Municipal Corporation for Best Multi-Model Integrated Project Special Awards to Road Transport Authority, Pune for Project of Scientific Management of Autorickshaw and Municipal Corporation of Badodara for city bus service Special Award to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for best ticketing in Mysore.    The Conference and Exhibition on Urban Mobility India - 2008 had been organized during 3 - 5th December 2008 in New Delhi to bring together urban transport professionals in the country to share their experiences and also get international experts so as to extend information and learn from developments and experiences abroad. The conference was being organised in pursuance of National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006 for the first time as a mega event. TFK/MT