The Hindu               13.05.2013

There must be fine roads for all wheels

In terms of population, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA) is poised to add a London in the next three decades. The Comprehensive Transportation Study (CTS) taken up on behalf of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) estimated the population here to double up in the next 30 years.

The population, which stood at 9.40 million in 2011, could touch 19 million i.e., adding the present population of London, the report, in its population forecast, observed. Taken up by LEA Associates, the study on Long Term Transportation Strategy-2041 suggested the need to plan for the emerging transportation needs while addressing the shortcomings of the existing transportation system. The estimate for this has been put at Rs. 5,000 crore a year, totalling Rs. 1,46,530 crore by 2041.

The strategy presented at a recent meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transportation Authority underscored the possibility of a high growth in private vehicle ownership. One likely scenario is the percentage of households owning cars going from the present 2.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent and households with two-wheelers rising from 46.2 per cent to 77.5 per cent.

To solve the present problems and meet future requirements, the presentation stressed the need for infrastructure investments of a magnitude which ‘far exceeds previous levels’.

To meet these expenses, it suggested funding by Central and State governments and also raising money through property development, public-private partnerships and debts from institutions.

A desired transportation network for 2041 suggested by the study looks at 235 km of Metro, 115 km of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and 150 km of MMTS. It also sought a comprehensive road network of access/partially access controlled roads, arterial roads, sub-arterial roads and collector streets totalling around 6,500 km in the HMA area.

The study has forecast that the city’s population could touch 19 million in 30 years, which is equivalent to adding the present population of London.