Integrated Environmental Sustainable Urban Transport Initiative - Public Space Management - Bhubaneswar - India

Abstract:

Bhubaneswar the capital of Orissa province in India have experienced some of the highest growth in population (176.67% 1961-71), presently emerging as IT, Educational & Tourist Capital of Eastern India. As a medium-sized city with a population near about 1 Million, it represents many of the common ailments facing by cities in developing countries. Such cities are often ill-equipped to control and manage the rampant growth in motorized vehicles. Similarly, too many players involved with one goal but integration & coordination among them remains absent. The challenges are to provide affordable, efficient and reliable transport services for the majority of citizens while minimizing negative environmental impacts on i.e. air quality, human health, greenhouse gases emission. As the experience from the developed world clearly indicates, once residents become fully motorized, reversing such trends becomes quite difficult and costly. Due to absence of efficient transport system and available of financial schemes offered by Banks the number of personalized vehicle were increased i.e two wheelers share 41.6 percent, bus and minibus operations carry just six percent of the motorized trips and auto rickshaws carry nine percent. Bhubaneswar Integrated Environmental Sustainable Urban Transport Initiative encompasses basic foundations for an integrated package of sustainable transport measures i.e. An Integrated Environmental Sustainable Urban Transport Policy, A full Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Greenway corridors and fully pedestrianised areas; A viable cycle way network; Demonstration of emission-free bicycle taxis (Rickshaws) and land-use measures that discourage the use of private vehicles. The Bhubaneswar IEST is not just aimed to reduce transport-related emissions but also attempt to lead a city-wide transformation of urban space. The development of public transport corridors, car- and motorcycle-free areas, cycle ways and quality public space will significantly improve the very urban fabric of the city. Likewise, the experience of Bhubaneswar will be replicated elsewhere.

Keywords: Sustainable Transport, Bhubaneswar, Greenhouse Gas Emission, Non Motorized Transport, Urban Space.