In urban places, mobility is of prime importance, more particularly in India where cities are swarming with inflow of migrants as they carry with them dream of moving out of poverty and despair. With breakthrough in technology driving up the riches, everyone is aspiring to grab a pie. So as cities expand in all directions, for planners the key issue on table is how to formulate a successful strategy to meet the demand for transportation. Most importantly the growth in Tier-II and Tier-III cities like Nagpur, is prime example where Government has to keep in sync with aspirations of population. So apart from city bus service, now there is mass rapid transport system (MRTS) in place, yet there is no dip in private vehicles that are jamming the roads.

 

What troubles the cities that are bursting at seams. Despite availability of affordable means of public transport, the citizens are still reluctant to make the switch. Is it lack of efficient public service, or status conscious people or some shortcomings that are preventing these public services from taking off? The Hitavada talked to officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to understand the dynamic of challenges for urban transport system. As per norms for a population of 30 lakh about 800 buses are required in city but running public transport in itself is a loss-making business. Stating the same, Ravindra Pagey, Administrative Officer, Transport Department, NMC, pointed out that the civic body forks out Rs. 212 crore for operations of city bus service. As against this the earning from ticket fare is mere Rs. 75 crore. “Thus the revenue gap is of Rs. 150 crore for maintaining the existing fleet, which the NMC has to bridge. To operate 800 buses, the civic body would be required to further infuse funds into transport fleet which will burn hole in its finances,” he said. NMC is not keen on booking profit from public transport services as its more of a social welfare measure, therefore fare is also kept on lower side.

 

Yet Pagey said picking-up Rs. 150 core tab is quite hefty and same can be cut down if passengers count increases substantially in city buses. Pagey also said several measures are planned by Transport Department to increase the passenger count, but it is not that easy. “Particularly worrisome is that during afternoon hours, the city buses run empty and the only peak period is morning and evening,” he added. NMC is now planning to widen its network to Nagpur Metropolitan Region as longer lead in kms may generate substantial revenue.

 

However, the move would run into competition with Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Now, Transport Department is also plying Aapli Buses on internal road of colonies. The experiment is on in Manish Nagar area and its showing good result. At other places, however, smaller roads create problem in plying of buses. Talking about the challenges for public transport front, Anil Kokate, Director, Strategic Planning, said biggest hurdle is bringing about behavioural change among citizens. “In a city like Nagpur, people are accustomed to two wheelers, so they still prefer to take risk driving two wheelers through bustling roads rather than comfort of metro. People are not yet willing to walk even 500 metres to reach the metro station and for metro organisation changing this perception of citizens remain a formidable challenge till date,” he stated. Apart from that while promoting walking, necessary pedestrian-friendly infrastructure is must to bring about change in citizens behavior. The footpaths need to free of hurdles and most importantly a covered pathway is must for city like Nagpur where temperature remains on higher side. In fact, Kokate said, “Government running the public transport in itself is a national service and citizens needs to understand this.

 

The more people using public transport automatically reduced fuel import bill, ensures citizens remains fit and healthy and there is drastic improvement in environment of that place. These three things are priceless and cannot be purchased by any amount of money and citizens must view the public transport facility as it is their lifeline,” he emphasised Along side, Kokate said Maha Metro bosses are taking some steps to aggressively promote transit oriented development (ToD) as in long run it only can provide mass ridership for metro service. On financial front, the beauty about Nagpur Metro is that nearly 40 per cent of its money is coming from non fare items. “At present we are generating nearly 60 per cent but in any given time, the revenue from Non Fare stream would not go down below 40 per cent,” Kokate asserted. In nutshell, the main aim is to bring about behavioral change in population as it alone can ensure mass transformation of commuters, specialty two-wheeler riders, into metro travellers.