Sustainable Transportation Strategy for Mumbai (Bombay) Region Using an Integrated Mass Transit Systems Approach

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Sustainable Transportation Strategy for Mumbai (Bombay) Region Using an Integrated Mass Transit Systems Approach

Dhingra, S. L. / Rajaram, B.

Sustainability has significant implications for transportation planning, because present transport activities tend to be highly resource-intensive, have numerous external costs, and frequently distribute impacts inequitably. Sustainability requires rethinking how we measure transportation. It focuses on access, which can often be improved with strategies that reduce the need to travel altogether, such as land use and improved communications. Sustainable transportation necessitates greater reliance on non-motorized transport for local travel, increased use of mass transportation in urban areas, and a reduction of personal automobile use. Mass transportation means are the most energy-efficient and most environmentally sound ways to move people. Among the benefits of mass transit are conserving energy and other resources; reducing pollution and its impact on the environment; and alleviating traffic congestion. Subsidized public mass transportation could improve inner city residents access to all metropolitan neighborhoods and help reduce reliance On automobiles. In the Indian scenario applied to the Mumbai city, there are permanent problems of congestion, increased travel time, commuter discomfort and environmental pollution. In a conscious effort to tackle these problems efficiently and also taking into account the issue of sustainability, this paper proposes an Integrated Mass Transportation system comprising the existing Central and Western Railway corridor, in conjunction with the two new components, namely, the Sky bus and the Battery-charged vehicle. The benefits of such an integrated system in attaining sustainability are investigated in this paper.