– By K. Gopalakrishnan
A year back when I visited Kolkata, I had a harrowing experience travelling by the local city buses. I found the public transport, particularly buses, in complete disarray.
A year later, Kolkata’s bus transport is much better, thanks to the JnNURM program. As part of the program, West Bengal received grant for 1,300 buses out of which 1,200 was for Kolkata city and 100 buses for Asansol. Out of the 1,200 buses for Kolkata city, 300 buses would be air-conditioned low floor buses including 50 Volvo buses.
After years of jostling amidst the heat and dust in old buses, the low floor air-conditioned Volvo buses are a welcome relief to the commuters in Kolkata. Volvo city buses are plying from Airport to the city centre.
The WBSTC has also appreciated the fuel efficiency per passenger-km and the reliability levels of these buses are far better than expected. The Volvo city bus offers automatic transmission; optimum power-to-weight ratio and excellent city manoeuvrability.
Throughout the trials, the performance of these buses were closely surveyed. Passengers surveyed were not only ready to pay more but 98 per cent of the passengers interviewed were also ready to make public transport their first preference. 81 per cent of the passengers rated the ride comfort as being far superior in a Volvo – a key factor while comparing public travel versus personal vehicles. The stepless entry received high appreciation from the elderly and young alike.
“City corporations are increasingly including buses into their long-term investment plan. This is because there is little purpose in making huge investments on roads if we cannot have the right vehicles and transport systems operating on them. Modern city buses have a key job to do – attract owners of private vehicles to switch over to convenient public transport and save, thus aiding in decongestion of city roads. They will also result in profound savings in terms of fuel conservation and reducing emissions”, mentioned Mr. Akash Passey, Managing Director, Volvo Buses India Private Ltd.
Sometime back Kolkata High Court passed an order of phasing-out all pre-1993 commercial vehicles from city roads to check pollution. About half of the 9,000-strong-fleet of private buses in Kolkata had to be removed from road. This resulted in severe shortage of buses. JnNURM has attempted to solve this problem and improve the quality of public transportation.
Urbanisation continues in India and rescuing the country’s cities from traffic jams will require major investments in the modernization of the traffic system and convincing people to take public transportation instead of cars and two-wheelers.
