Nagpur: The Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CPM) prepared by MahaMetro has suggested constitution of a Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority (UMTA) to regulate projects related to road infrastructure and public transport in the city. The study conducted to prepare the CMP revealed 11 different government bodies plan or execute these works, and have no coordination between each other, resulting in improper public transport.
MahaMetro recently updated the CMP prepared by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) in 2013. The CMP has suggested a 12-member UMTA with divisional commissioner or collector as chairman, and mayor and civic chief from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), CP, NIT chairman, representatives of development authority, state town planning department, railways, state PWD, MPCB, RTO, and two urban transport experts as its members.
As per the CMP, all departments related to urban transport in the city do not function in coherence. “11 government departments are involved in urban affairs and urban transport in the city. There is no clear segregation between planning and implementing bodies. Lack of coordination also prevails among them. Road projects are implemented in isolation from other projects, which should otherwise be an integral part of road development like footpaths, cycle tracks, pedestrian facilities etc. There is no control over mushrooming intermediate public transport (IPT) modes, which lead to congestion and contest with city buses. There are also operation issues in public transport due to poor route and service planning. There is no dedicated organization for long term urban transport planning,” the CMP said.
The plan says UMTA should have legal backing, so that it’s functioning falls under an act and commands greater authority. CMP suggested UMTA should have powers to regulate fares related to roads, public transport, parking etc, and approve all road infrastructure and public transport projects by various government bodies. It is also suggested that UMTA should prepare, monitor and audit CMP, transport master plans, transport investment programmes etc.
A NMC official told TOI the state government will take a final decision in this regard. “Now, general body will approve the CMP. MahaMetro will submit it to the state,” he said.
The CMP also revealed that average speed of private vehicles on major roads is 23 kmph and that for public transport is 18 kmph. This is third in four levels of service (LOS), which are measured as per norms of ministry of housing and urban affairs.
The report puts LOS for remaining 10 facilities related to road infrastructure and public transport in the city too at three or four.