Basic HTML Version
8
MOTORINDIA
l
April 2012
Rising crude prices and the resultant
hike in fuel rates, fears of possible fos-
sil fuel shortage sooner than later, and
the environmental degradation caused
by vehicular emission are among fac-
tors behind the universal drive to re-
duce to the extent possible the number
of vehicles plying on roads. Consider-
ing the unprecedented growth in pro-
duction of vehicles of all categories,
it is just not possible to contain road
traffic in order to ensure quicker and
safer mobility. In this regard one sin-
gle area that attracts attention most is
bus transport with its offer to carry
more passengers and thus help ease traffic congestion on city roads. The
other plausible solution lies in individual vehicle owners switching to
sharing of vehicles for daily commuting.
In view of the rapidly increasing use of personal cars and other modes of
transport, it may not be easy to achieve greater reliance on bus transport.
The inadequate road infrastructural facilities and poor traffic management
in towns and cities add to the woes of bus transport undertakings. Neither
is the proposal to dedicate separate lanes for buses on city roads as sug-
gested for Delhi, the worst traffic-congested city in the country, would
be acceptable to the users of other vehicles like cars, trucks and two- and
three-wheelers, as also non-motorised vehicles, jostling for space. Be-
sides, the growing traffic and the speeding over-crowded vehicles cause
more road accidents and loss of lives and property.
Industry experts feel that despite challenges faced in traffic manage-
ment, with growing urbanisation leading to a steady flow of migrants from
rural areas and smaller towns to cities, public transport must be given top
priority to avoid further deterioration in air quality, traffic congestion and
noise pollution. Majority of bus passengers in the country can’t afford
the cost of bus travel in India where it is the lowest as compared to other
developing countries. Hence the need to lower it further though it would
mean reduced revenue for transport undertakings. Private finance and pri-
vate sector participation for improving road infrastructure is most appro-
priate in the changing scenario. Of course, the experts group on urban
transport has suggested an investment of over Rs. 50,000 crores to expand
bus transport in the 12th Plan period. Efforts are also on to improve fa-
cilities through electronic ticketing and easier movement of pedestrians to
facilitate a smoother traffic flow. With all this, how the bus segment will
rise to the occasion and meet the future traffic needs will be watched with
both interest and concern.
Publishers
Gopali & Co., Quanta Zen Building,
No.38, Thomas Road, 2nd Street, Off. South Boag
Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017.
Ph.: 24330979, 42024951. Fax: 044-24332413
Email: motorindiamagazine@gmail.com
motorindia@rediffmail.com
Founder
M. Rajagopalan
Mentor
Rajagopalan Kalidasan
Managing Editor & Publisher
R. Natarajan (Cell: 9381062161)
Email: motorindia@rediffmail.com
Assistant Editor
K.N. Ananthanarayanan (Cell: 9003053132)
Executive Editor & General Manager
K. Gopalakrishnan (42127950, Cell: 9840897542)
Email: motorindia.india@gmail.com
Editorial Correspondent
N. Balasubramanian (Cell: 9840597082)
Email: balanatarajan.gopali@gmail.com
Marketing
G. Mohan
N. Ananthan
Designer
E. Marimuthu
REGIONAL MANAGERS
Mumbai
R. Balasubramanian (Cell: 9323711291)
G-102, Srinagar Co.Op. Housing Society,
Off. P.L. Lokande Marg, Chembur (West),
Mumbai - 400 089. Ph.: 022-25252377.
Email: r.balagopali@gmail.com
Coimbatore
Ganesh Kalidasan (Cell: 9790926388)
Flat No.A1-42, TVH Ekanta
No.5/179, Masakalipalayam Road
Uppilipalayam, Coimbatore 641015.
Email: ganesh.kalidas@gmail.com
Bangalore
J. Saravanam (Cell: 9880974765)
BS 23, 2nd Floor, Block ‘B’ Ittina Neela, Near Gold
Coins Club, Andapura, Electronics City P.O.,
Bangalore-560100.
Email: saravanam_j@yahoo.co.in
Allahabad
Shoubhik Sarkar (Cell: 9936245032)
196-A, Chak Raghunath, Jail Road,
(Behind Asha Hospital), Naini, Allahabad - 211008
(U.P.) Ph: 0532-2696873
Email: sarkarshoubhik@rediffmail.com
Member of INS / AINEC / IFSMAN
Edited & Published by R. Natarajan on behalf of
Gopali & Co., Quanta Zen Building, No.38,
Thomas Road, 2nd Street, T.Nagar, Chennai-17, and
Printed by B. Ashok Kumar at Rathna Offset Printers,
40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai-14
Editorial
www.motorindiaonline.com
Boost to bus transport
R. Natarajan, Managing Editor & Publisher
MOTORINDIA