Pune Metro Route : Suggestions
Vijay Patil
Pune citizens (and elected representatives) to study, understand,
think carefully and give suggestions to decision maker.
Documents are available at : http://government.wikia.com/wiki/Metro
D1. DPR document by DMRC Ltd.
Set of 16 PDF documents/chapter. This document describes need, costing
and other aspects of proposed Metro project.
D2. Traffic Forecast for the Proposed Metro Rail Project in Pune
Metropolitan Area (200 pages) : Report on Methodology and Data by
Transportation Systems Engineering Group, Civil Engineering
Department, IITB, March 2008
Overall objectives of the documents is to provide logical explanation
for need for Metro and routes (corridors) that are best for the Metro.
For purpose of this mail, let's keep project costing part aside.
Please add if any other important official document is available for
citizens. Other useful documents are also available at above URL.
---
I spent some time studying first 3 chapters of the document, with
expectation to find clear description of :
1. What is current traffic/transportation situation in Pune region.
2. Why metro is needed for Pune region.
3. How best routes for the metro are identified.
4. How metro is guaranteed to solve traffic problems and how to
measure progress/improvements?
On positive note, document mentions importance of public
transportation and having high percentage of usage as city grows.
However following things concern me.
1. Useless Forecast?
It is fine and very important to have past and current data about
population. If I read correct, population figures from 2003 are being
used? Where are latest figures?
We know population (by birth) grows at around 2 % per year (may be
less in urban areas) and is not controlled by policies. This is small
(and decreasing) contribution to growth of Pune region. So what
exactly population *forecast* and 4 wheeler, 2 wheeler ownership
*forecast* is supposed to mean? Are they independent numbers and can
not be controlled/influenced at all, by policies of local government?.
They should be target figures that govt. should try to achieve, right?
The targets should be treated very seriously.
In general, we are trying to achieve balance of all modes of
transports (including walk and cycling).
2. Define Clear Parameters
All parameters and indicators that we are trying to improve (in
future) should be clearly defined. Current levels should be measured
and published.
Easy parameters:
P1. Pollution (air, noise etc.) levels.
P2. Trips share for each mode of transport.
This should be comprehensive. We should be able to answer dominant
mode of transport for trips < 5 KM and trips > 5 KMS. The answers are
likely to be interesting. Our targets should also be defined at this
granularity.
Statistics of buses and car pooling used by companies for its
employees is missing. Why not measure them? We do want to encourage it
and have some target for future right?
Statistics of people who walk to work is missing. In townships like
Magarpatta, this is significant number. Why not measure them? We do
want to encourage it and have some target for future right?
P3. Accidents per 1000 people.
Difficult/missing parameters:
+ Quality of public transport
This will include : average time required to travel 1 KM using public
transport, cost, comfort etc.
It is not easy to get statistics with good accuracy. Effort should be
made for good number that as much as possible.
3. What - If Scenario Analysis is missing
Without Metro project, taking into account PMPML future capacity, PMC
and PCMC current development plans, a future scenario should be
created and values of above parameters should be calculated. This
scenario (based on above parameters) obviously is likely to be very
bad, but it needs to be created.
Then a simple question should be posed/asked, what can be
realistically and quickly done to improve the scenario and what is the
target scenario/values. The answer is likely to be many things
including, increasing capacity of public transportation. So Metro
project should be viewed as a one important piece of jig saw puzzles
and other pieces should not be ignored.
4. Metro corridors
It should be kept in mind that increase in transportation capacity is
likely to increase investment and economic activity in near by area.
We should be careful about not exceeding the capacity of metro (like
Mumbai local) by allowing rapid growth. This is why having target
parameters is important. To repeat again: population and new buildings
should not treated as independent variables and predicted. They should
be treated as target values that can be influenced and controlled.
5. Reuse of existing railway tracks.
Simple should be posed? How we can improve public transportation
capacity and quality, with maximum probability of success and minimal
investment? I am sure concerned people did a brain storing and
considered reusing existing railways tracks.
Following is a alternate proposal :
Please see attached figure.
+ Basically this involves taking over Indian railways tracks in
central areas of Pune region and converting them into Pune metro
(local trains). Full capacity will be used. If needed additional
capacity could be added.
+ What happens to long distance trains of IR? Indian railways is
requested to create a new track on the out skirts of the city. New
railways stations will be constructed, one for Pimpri chinchwad and
other for Pune. Stations will be connected to city by Pune metro.
+ What happens to long distance connectivity? Western part of Pune
region is already well connected to other regions due to NH4. New
track by IR will connect eastern part of Pune. This is good balance.
Note : I do not have degrees in Urban planning or transportation. This
is a suggestion that needs more thought. Please see attached figure.
6. Forum for citizens
Many Pune citizens have questions, suggestions, doubts. Like me they
will be official documents very difficult to ready. The document is
patchwork of different sections. It should explained in forums by
concerned people.
The ideas suggested should be debated and explained why they will work
and not work by concerned people. After all its people's money that is
being spent on this project.
7. Software
For those (like me) interested in technology, there is find mention
of CUBE/TRIPS software. It was used for modeling demand.
http://www.citilabs.com/index.php/cube-5.2139/
This software should be made available (deployed) at concerned
departments at PMC & PCMC. The model should be handed over (is not
already) to PMC & PCMC. Engineers at PMC & PCMC should understand this
model and be able to explain.
---
Summary :
+ Consider all modes of transports (cycling, walk to work).
+ Define clear parameters. Measure current levels.
+ Define target parameters and how they can be achieved in next 2-5 years.
+ Brain storm to generate ideas, achieve target with minimal risk.
+ Improve quality of project documents (current quality if
unacceptable) involve citizens.
Note : This mail consists of suggestions for initial stage of the
Metro project, does not consider other important stages like costing
and implementation etc.
Thanks
--
Vijay Patil
Ashok Sreenivas
The DPR available on the wikia site is a draft version. The final version is available on the PMC site. You can find our analysis and response based on the draft version here:
http://parisar.org/activities/other-activities/60-parisar-reaction-to-the-proposed-metro.html
PS: Havent read your mail in detail.
Ashok
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