The Hindu 09.10.2013
Project for desalination of sea water under study
Several schemes planned to attract more dwellers to Visakhapatnam
Urban mobility is not merely improving traffic conditions but bringing a change in the living conditions and for that providing infrastructure like water and electricity and employment opportunities hold the key, according to I. Satyanarayana, Chairman of Institution of Engineers India (IEI), Visakhapatnam local centre.
Population
Speaking at a programme held to mark the World Habitat Day with ‘urban mobility’ as its theme on Monday night, he reminded of the projection that by 2050 population in 2,156 towns was expected to cross one million mark.
GVMC Chief Engineer B. Jayarami Reddy said Metro rail, BRTS, effective water supply and sewerage systems, public parking and conveniences, efficient roads and signalling systems were being planned in Visakhapatnam to attract more dwellers to the city and make their life more comfortable.
A project for desalination of sea water was also under consideration but as it was highly uneconomical a decision would be taken only after considering all the factors.
ANITS professor B.D. Narasinga Rao gave a detailed account and analysis of the cities world over in terms of urban mobility increasing the population in cities considerably.
The sweeping changes which took place in the last few years in terms of globalisation, and communication revolution increased urbanisation and urban mobility, he said.
Public transport, integration of different modes of transport, parking areas, separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, Metro rail, BRTS, improved and efficient planning of traffic signals and many such developments improve the living conditions in cities and hence better urban mobility.
