|
|
|
 
 
 
 
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
Petroleum price hike finally hits India - India drafts National Urban Transport policy seeking to promote public transport system over private vehicles
The steep rise of petroleum prices made India rethink the use of private vehicles over public transports. India imports more than 80% of its petroleum based energy needs.
The Government on Wednesday presented the draft of the National Urban Transport policy to states and Union Territories seeking to promote public transport system over private vehicles.
According to media reports, under the policy, which would see increased funds allocation by the Centre for establishing modern transport systems, each city would develop its integrated master plan keeping in view its future growth around a pre-planned transport network.
Inaugurating conference of Chief Ministers of National Urban Transport Policy here, Union Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, ‘‘We (the Centre) will encourage each city with a population of more than 40 lakhs to start planning for a mass transit system adopting a technology that would best suit the city requirements in a 30-year time-frame.’’
Possibilities include buses on dedicated corridors, elevated sky bus and monorail system, electric trolley buses and underground metro systems.
Azad said even cities with population of 10 lakhs and above could be considered for some systems while the government would encourage use of ‘‘non-motorised systems’’ like bicycles and walking throughout the country by building separate tracks and pedestrian paths.
This would be given priority under the National Urban Renewal Mission, which seeks to provide Rs 50,000 crore to states in the next five years, he said.
‘‘The conference was held to understand the views of different states and generally, they have all said that there is need for such a policy,’’ he told reporters.
Stressing the importance of planning for integrated land use and allocation of parking space, Azad suggested that state governments amend building by-laws in all cities with population of above 10 lakhs so that adequate parking space be provided by developers of residential and office complexes.
Addressing the conference, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit advocated construction of expressways around large cities so that vehicles from outside did not have to transit through them.
POLITICAL ARTICLES
|
|
| Click here to get ad specs and place your ad or Click here to contact the advertisement department |
Send Letters to the Editor
|
Add RSS headlines