As part of our continuing efforts to improve BRT in Pune, we had organized a presentation by Dario Hidalgo and OP Agarwal on 26 February 2008. Here is a report on the programme.

Salient points about the presentations

O.P Agarwal

Mr. Agarwal holds a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from MIT. He was the former Head of the Urban Transport Division, Ministry of. Urban Development, Government of India. He was responsible for launching the National Urban Transport Policy. He is now CEO of UMTC-ILFS (Urban Mass Transport Corporation).

• Have to accept sustainable transport policy fundamentals to solve urban traffic crisis
• Flyovers don't solve traffic problems
• Metro is expensive – 150 to 300 crores/km. Underground Metro exceeds 300 crores!
• The City Bus Network is the most critical component – it has to be improved.
• The 2-wheeler represents a tough challenge. It provides transportation that is
  - Cheap
  - Incredibly convenient
  - Fast
• Public Transport will need to work hard to beat it. The challenge is to provide quality but at a competitive price. Subsidies are needed, but they must be transparent.
• Access to and Egress from Public Transport is overlooked and crucial to increasing modal share

Dario Hidalgo

Dario, a Colombian Civil Engineer, holds a Ph.D. in Transportation Planning from the Ohio State University. Over the last 15 years he has participated in several major transport projects as a consultant and a government official. He was Deputy General Manager of TRANSMILENIO S.A. during the implementation of the Bogotá's Bus Rapid Transit System Phase I and the preparation and tendering of its second phase. As an international transport consultant for international agencies and local governments he has taken part in projects in Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ghana and Thailand. He has also delivered training courses on BRT Systems planning and implementation in China, México, India, South Africa and Colombia. In addition, he has been a graduate level lecturer in urban planning and, and is author of more than 30 academic articles, including a comprehensive review of bus systems in developing countries. Among other responsibilities, Dario leads the development of products and projects aimed to help solving urban transport problems and identifying opportunities throughout EMBARQ's network.

The Mexico City story

• 200 km of Metro – runs well, but low quality service, overcrowding
• Chaotic and poor quality private city bus service
• BRT
  - 20 km of closed system
  - Separate company formed for running BRT – works on PPP model. All actual operations outsourced.
  - 2.6 lakh passengers a day on the single BRT line

Bottom line – Mexico City also had a lot of teething problems – but with the will and effort they managed to get a successful BRT corridor running.

Some select questions from the audience

Vijay Lele

Q: What is the plan for improvement? What is the role of Mr. Hidalgo and Mr. Agarwal?

A: Here for the long run. Provide technical resources. (Hidalgo) Feel upbeat about prospects and the attitude of officials and citizen groups so far.

J. Krishnayya

Q1: Is the lack of technical resources a cause for concern? How will so many projects be implemented? Are changes in curriculum needed?

A: (Agarwal) Engineers are available and good. Lack of transport planners is a problem. Need non-engineering inputs too, like people from social sciences.

Q2: The Indian/Asian situation is quite unique. The incredible heterogeneity of modes (bullock carts, hand carts, cycles, rickshaws, 2-wheelers, cars etc) poses a special challenge to planning.

A: Very much the case. Indian BRT designs are already reflecting this by providing cycle tracks along all BRT corridors, spaces for vendors and hawkers etc.

Shirish Patel

Q: Is there not a serious flaw in our planning processes?

A: Transport planners need to be a part of the city development planning. This is a big problem. There is a need to move towards Transit Oriented Development.

Vivek Velankar/Jugal Rathi

Q: Can the city be expected to make all this a reality? There is a serious lack of standards when planning for cycle tracks and footpaths. Most footpaths are non-walkable.

A: This is a problem in many cities, where due consideration is not given to pedestrians and cyclists. It is important to create ample spaces both, not based simply on demand, but because they are required, no matter how many people actually walk or cycle.