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.