The Delhi government on Wednesday launched an initiative to increase the reach of transportation facilities and provide last-mile connectivity to citizens. The logo for the initiative, ‘Connect Delhi’, was launched at the Secretariat by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.
The launch event was attended by senior officials, including Transport Secretary Varsha Joshi and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director Mangu Singh.
Committee formed
The Transport Department has also formed a high-level steering committee to ensure timely decision-making and speedy implementation of projects and schemes under the initiative.
The committee, chaired by the Transport Minister himself, will comprise representatives of transport agencies in Delhi and experts in public transport from across the country.
The first meeting of the steering committee was held on Wednesday to deliberate on proposals for bus routes and feeder service rationalisation for Najafgarh here.
“Under this initiative, the Delhi government is carrying out a holistic planning exercise covering all public transport modes such as buses, metro feeder services, gramin sewa and rural transport vehicles [RTVs], among others so as to ensure frequent, reliable and affordable public transport facility is available within 500 metres walking distance from any part of Delhi,” Mr. Gahlot said.
Experts consulted
The initiative has been conceptualised after consulting several transport experts and taking into consideration similar successful efforts globally, notably in Seoul and London, he said.
In the first phase of the initiative, the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) will carry out a scientific study on travel demands and to formulate proposals for route rationalisation and last-mile connectivity.
Subsequently, the initiative will bring multiple stakeholders such as the Transport Department, the Delhi Transport Corporation, the DMRC, the civil society and resident welfare associations together to deliberate and finalise proposals and implement them in a phased manner, he said.
Accessibility issues
The public transport system in Delhi is diverse and consists of different modes.
Despite such a substantial public transport infrastructure, the issues related to accessibility, availability and reliability of service still remain, a Transport Department official said.