CMP envisages increased role of public transport

PUNE: Officials of Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on Thursday released the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for PMRDA which stresses increasing use of public transport to decrease the stress due to rising number of personal vehicles. The CMP aims at increasing percentage share of public transport users from the current 19 per cent to 40 per cent by 2038.

PMRDA aims to achieve the same through augmentation of public transport which is the PMPML bus service and also relying on a good metro service. The CMP took eight months’  time and is designed to cover 2,000 square km area of PMRDA which has a total area of 7,000 sq km. 

PMRDA Chief Kiran Gitte said designing the CMP in eight months is an achievement for the PMRDA team. “The CMP was recently approved by the government. We have designed the mobility plan for a period of 20 years which will require a budget of Rs 66,000 crore,” said Gitte.

In the city area, PMRDA is looking after projects like Hinjawadi-Hadapsar metro and Mumbai-Pune hyperloop. In Pune rural area, the PMRDA is looking after 128 km Ring Road Project, Town Planning Schemes, development of villages in Pune metropolitan region and building roadways for better mobility in the region. 

The CMP emphasises the importance of pedestrian facilities, non-motorised transport measures including bicycle tracks, use of metro, local trains and BRTS service, road widening, parking measures, truck terminals, street lighting, road signs, hawker management and formation of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA).

PMRDA officials said that UMTA will function as an umbrella organisation to coordinate the planning and implementation of urban transport programmes and ensures adequate provision of the budget for all modes and integration of transport, fare integration, research and awareness.

PMRDA STUDY OF PUNE & PIMPRI-CHINCHWAD
- No. of registered vehicles is 52 lakh with a growth rate of 8 per cent per annum.
- Around 1,500 accidents, 360 are fatal accidents in 2017.
- 68 lakh motorised trips are made daily.
- 83 per cent of households own either a two-wheeler or two-wheelers and cars.
- Average spending on transport per month is Rs 1,400.
- Average traffic speed is 18 kmph during peak hours.
- Average trip length of people is 8 km.