Page 51 - TrafficInfraTech Magazine - Linking People Places & Progres

SMART CITIES

“For example, Chennai has 3500 has largely contributed to this state of
odd buses. Experts believe the number affairs. “We cannot carry on as business
should be 6000-12000. So the new as usual - with ever increasing numbers
reality insists that we have many more of cars destroying our public space and
buses than that. Plus if all cities of the streets with chaos, pollution, haphazard
country were to take up this strategy, parking. The crisis needs to be used to
this would be a huge employment win the war against these menaces for
generation mechanism, with much of current and future generations, once
the vehicle industries re-structuring to and for all.”
make modern low cost A/C buses.’’
Bhatnagar points out three main
Cherubal gives a health angle to challenges for the transport sector.
this as well. Indian increasingly suffer One is operational challenge. During
from lifestyle diseases like diabetics and rush hour, public transport systems
cardiovascular due to lack of exercise, can be crowded. Thermal screening
places to walk and relax. COVID-19 may lead to long queues requiring
crisis has impacted these citizens more holding areas, contactless ticketing Initially, the
than others. Lack of walking, cycling, systems, sanitisation of bus and metro buses might
public space infra, and unsafe and coaches etc. Financial challenges are the carry one-third of
polluted public environment in our cities outcome of low ridership. Though low
passengers. So,
to reach certain
demand levels,
the buses would
need to run more
trips. This will
require use of
route optimisation
tools for real time
dynamic routing
of buses, and use
of contactless
payment &
ticketing.

- Raj Cherubal

www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com April-May 2020 / TrafficInfraTech 51