Citation

Ponnuswamy S, Anantharajan T. Indian Highw. 1998; 26(10): 23-35.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Indian Roads Congress)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Many expert committees have drawn attention to the need to evolve an urban transport policy in Indian cities, to conserve energy and encourage use of public transport. Several analytical studies have been conducted, and some solutions have been suggested, not all of which are practicable. Some additional studies, conducted in Chennai, the fourth most populated Indian city, have shown that most commuters give top priority to travel time and second priority to the comfort and convenience of the transport mode. To achieve these aims, they would be willing to pay more for improved public transport. Due to the widespread poverty in India, public transport costs must be considerably less than private transport costs, to make it attractive. The city has a large port, quite an extensive local railway network which is relatively little used, three major radial roads, and incomplete orbital roads. The provision of footways is poor, and there are no cycle tracks on the busy radials. This paper describes a study applying a two-part Delphi technique to develop future transport scenarios and decide modal choice policy issues in Chennai. It analyses responses on six main issues and several other issues, and identifies twelve actions which the expert panel considered desirable and feasible to improve transport in Chennai.