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Janmarg - A successful BRT so far without media publicity
Written By Vasanth - 25 August, 2009
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Janmarg in Ahmeadabad, a BRT project modelled like the Transmilenio of Curitiba and Bogota, seems to be heading in the right direction. Janmarg officials have done enough ground work after seeing the failures of Pune and Delhi BRT Projects.
Media is not covering much about this project like Delhi BRT, which was attacked left and right by media as well as politicians. Somehow media and politicians have kept quiet wrt Ahmedabad.
Few of the unique features I observed was:
1. Buses having doors on either sides. In BRT corridor, door opens on the right side of the bus (driver side) compared to conventional left side opening.
2. Parking facilities in few of the bus stands.
3. Metro like smart card to board the bus.
4. Free ride for few days for everyone to have a feel.
5. Like other BRT corridors, cycle and pedestrian tracks.
6. Passenger Information System
Still there are few teething problems with vehicles entering bus lanes. But, fines have been kept expensive. Here is the link on skyscrapercity:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=364192&page=14
Here are few posts on the media:
Smart Cards:
http://www.utvi.com/news/latest-business-news-india/30039/ahmedabad-brts-makes-a-sound-start.html
COMMENTS
Bigger issue is how we see development
s_yajaman - 25 August, 2009 - 04:21
As long as the average citizen believes that progress and development means 10 lane roads and his ability to drive an even bigger car at higher speeds, politicians will follow that trend.
The current rot has been 20 years in the making. It will take a long time for any new paradigm to take hold. We are folling ourselves if we think otherwise.
Srivathsa
Can Bangalore think in the lines of Janmarg
Vasanth - 25 August, 2009 - 02:49
Let us monitor Ahmeadabad BRT closely. Looks like we are getting the right model. One thing about Ahmeadabad is the wide roads which allows for BRT easily compared to Bangalore roads.
But, Bangalore has got lots of one way wide roads such as Kasturbha Road, Nrupathunga Road, Residency Road etc. If transport authorities can make lots of ground work like how Janmarg officials did by travelling to Curitiba and Bogota and have consultants from Ahmeadabad, we can have BRT at least in wide one way roads which are frequently get clogged despite of the width.
Who will move the cheese???
Naveen - 25 August, 2009 - 04:06
Delhi's english media (particularly, TOI) had over-reacted & made BRTS a political issue. At Ahmadabad, I think they have been lying low & have refrained from criticizing any teething problems - these are to be expected for any new project or development/s.
Ahmadabad has benefited greatly from Delhi's experiences. It is hoped that many more cities, including Bangalore go in for this system, which is highly cost efficient.
Vasanth - 12 January, 2010 - 16:28
This is for the bus day event special video on Feb 4th how Janmarg.
and this is the Transmilenio example:
Can this ever happen in Bangalore? Can Yediyurappa become like his Gujrat counterpart.
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