Experts: Integrate transport systems of Bangalore

Improving the urban transport system seemed to be the focus of discussions at Municipalika 2011 on Friday.

Innovators, members from the transport department of the Union government and managing directors of transport agencies in Bangalore stressed on urbanising the transport systems.

The International Association of Public Transport project manager Mohammed Mesghani proposed changes at three levels — political, tactical and operational.

“Policies need to be framed and initiation should come from the political level to integrate the transport system. The first thing we need is to have a long-term organising and scheming, knowing the resources and keeping in mind the growth of the cities and expectations of commuters,” said Mesghani.

The ideas that have always been spoken of, to have a better and easier traffic and transportation system in urban areas like better footpaths for pedestrians, cycling tracks and bus-rapid transits got a thumbs up at the discussion.

Gaurav Gupta, managing director of KSRTC and a member of Infrastructural Development Board in Bangalore, said, “There are many agencies looking after each of the transport modes in the city, which should not be the case. We must also have one nodal agency to plan and execute the transportation system and its requirements to integrate transport in urban cities.”

“The carriage way, the footpath and the utility ducts cannot be planned in isolation. If these three are planned accordingly, planning urban transport for easy commuting and long-term scheming on this front is almost done,” said N Sivasailam, managing director of BMRCL.