SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AHMEDABAD BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM

Abstract

The research examines the impacts in terms of sustainability from a transport development project, taking the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), Ahmedabad as the case study. The principal focus therefore is on the service level benchmarking of BRTS and opinion analysis of different households which indirectly affect the sustainability of the project. By this research the investigator wants to show the importance of the sustainability aspect of public transportation for sustainability of the city, to make the city more livable and importantly to make the existing service ready for the future increased demand for successful functioning of the transport system as well as the city. Following parts, summarises the summary of research, dealt in chronological order. Aim and Objectives The aim of the study is to access the sustainability of current situation of Ahmedabad BRTS for future high demands. Following are the objectives for the research study: • To assess the existing condition of the transportation system. • To study the impact of Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System in the system. • To identify the indicators and service level benchmarks for assessing the sustainability. • To evaluate the service level benchmarks for Ahmedabad BRTS. • To evolve a set of plausible guidelines for sustainable transportation system for Ahmedabad City. 1. Public Transportation Scenario India is a very large country with over a billion people and nearly 50 of its cities contain populations above 1 million each. Awareness varies in these cities about the role and importance of urban transport. While large cities (comprising more than 3 million people each) are aware and active, many cities (comprising about 1 million population each) are relatively inactive. This paper describes steps being taken by the Indian Government to promote sustainable urban transport, while the author suggests the need to make cities pedestrian-friendly for quick and ongoing relief, and proposes four essential ingredients for sustainable urban transport in the long term. 2. Sustainability, Sustainable Transportation and Sustainability Assessment The concept of sustainability includes the following features: (i) processes need to be maintained (or carried on with) over a period of time, and (ii) harvesting of resources is inevitable for processes to run. 'The systems that function proficiently competent over a time span, over specified area and which can be kept up or maintained by minimal resources are sustainable systems". The resources that urban transportation systems deal with are, broadly speaking, as follows: (i) Material resources such as fuel, aggregates, bitumen, etc.; (ii) Space on land, water and air; (iii) Time; (iv) People (and sometimes certain types of animals); (v) Environment and (vi) Opportunity. The Sustainability measurement is a term that denotes the measurements used as the quantitative basis for the informed management of sustainability. The metrics used for the measurement of sustainability (involving the sustainability of environmental, social and economic domains, both individually and in various xii Sustainability Assessment Of Ahmedabad Bus Rapid Transit System combinations) are still evolving: they include indicators, benchmarks, audits, indexes and accounting, as well as assessment, appraisal and other reporting systems. They are applied over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. 3. Bus Rapid Transit System and Lessons of Delhi BRTS BRT is "a flexible, rubber-tired rapid-transit mode that combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements into an integrated system with a strong positive identity that evokes a unique image." (Levinson et al., 2003, p. 12) "BRT is high-quality, customer-orientated transit that delivers fast, comfortable and cost effective urban mobility." (Wright, 2003, p. 1) BRT is "a rapid mode of transportation that can combine the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses" (Thomas, 2001). Starting off as an open system has been perhaps the biggest mistake in Delhi. This has slowed the system because of (i) buses moving in and out at any point of the corridor, (ii) long halts by buses to pick up passengers and (iii) breakdowns of deteriorated buses. Other mistakes include: Small stretch, No route rationalization and network development, Bus stops at junctions, Shifting bus lanes from center to left 4. Study Area BRTS Ahmedabad This aspect was covered under chapter 4 of the research and provided an insight into the Ahmedabad city's socio—economic and demographic profile as well as an overview of the urban transport system in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is a rapidly expanding city with increasing developments, urbanization supported by domestic as well as foreign direct investment. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) governs an area of about 190 sq. km. and has a population of about 4.5 million. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the city has been granted funds for urban development and renewal. Under this mission and as an integral part of the urban transport vision for Ahmedabad city and the Ahmedabad Urban Agglomeration area, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has been proposed and executed. The project envisages at influencing all income groups of the society and especially providing access to economically weaker sections of the society and increasing mobility of lower income groups. The BRTS has been proposed to be implemented under three phases. The system shall be integrated with the proposed metro system and rail corridor. This project also included upgradation of roads and development of road infrastructure. The concept of BRTS is to encourage more people on the public transit system, which with high quality service is delivered. It is about equal access and equal sharing of road space for people. By providing a dedicated corridor within the street for BRTS vehicles, more people can travel to destination in a time that is comparable to single occupancy vehicles............