Metro rail systems are touted as a one-size-fits-all solution to traffic congestion and environmental problems of Indian cities. Do you agree? Justify your stand. (200 words)
Refer – Business Line
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· In the past decade, more than 13 cities in India have sanctioned for metro rail systems and many more States are still vying to seek clearance.
· While metro rail systems are touted as a one-size-fits-all solution, the ground reality is incongruous, with the so far generated returns.
Concerns with universal applicability
· The studies on transport projects have questioned the universal applicability of metro rail projects as a mode of public transport.
· Such system can be advantageous only when carefully implemented in integration with other public conveyance modes.
· Furthermore, the effective utilisation of metros depends on the spatial attributes of cities such as concentration of business districts and population size and density.
· Also, it is one among the most expensive forms of mass rapid transit systems.
· Even amongst the middle-class users of private vehicles in India, the use of metro systems is not very encouraging because of its very high travelling cost.
· Moreover, the construction of metro projects tends to drive out investments from other cheaper modes of public transport such as bus systems, which cater to the majority of lower middle and urban poor segments.
· Also, for the same amount of expenditure the bus systems can cover a much larger area.
· It involves extensive land use changes for their implementation.
· In the absence of robust land regulations, private participation in metro systems may also lead to diversion of significant land resources to commercial gains.
· For instance, for Bengaluru and Kochi metro projects, land parcels have been acquired in addition to project requirements that are converted for profit generating real estate activities primarily targeted at higher income groups.
· So, there needs to be a proper assessment of economic viability and the transportation needs of cities prior to the adoption of metro systems.
Manav 6 years
Kindly review it. Thanks.
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good effort. Keep writing.
