Centre urges city to boost non-motorised transport

Chennai

In one of the short term plans (six months) in encouraging and reviving non-motorised transport, the Ministry has asked cities to create temporary pedestrian areas, footpath and cycle lanes after mapping the important routes connecting residential areas from major centres of work. At the same time, long term plan (1 year to 3 years) has been proposed to introduce cashless e-booking of bicycles and repair existing footpaths. Creating a mechanism for carbon credit system and carbon tax benefit for cyclists is also a part of the long term plan.

The communication has been sent expecting that several commuters in the cities would shift to private transport modes, including cars, owing to the COVID fear. This would increase carbon emission and traffic on the roads.

One of the short term plans proposes reduced services to places with higher COVID incidence to boost confidence in public transport among the citizens. The Ministry has asked states to implement e-ticketing, digital payment for the journey as a long term plan.

The instructions have come at a time when all the public transportation modes are suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the city. The disease has also put the cycle-sharing system and non-motorised transport in the city on hold.

When asked, a Chennai Corporation official attached to smart city projects said that the civic body would implement the recommendations. “We are working on the intelligent transport management system (ITS) in the city to boost public transport and non-motorised transport. Discussions will be held with the senior officials and recommendations of the Ministry will be implemented,” he added.

Once the public transport resumes in the city, the central government has directed operators to mandate Aarogya Setu smartphone application among the public who use public transport.

Meanwhile, the Chennai Corporation has resumed cycle-sharing system in the city after a break caused by COVID-19. “The cycle-sharing has been started with 1,000 bicycles and the vehicles are sanitized every day to prevent the spread,” the official said.