A film on Ahmedabad's Janmarg BRTS

Summary

The script celebrates Ahmedabad's transformation into an environmentally conscious city, recognized by Forbes as the third fastest-growing city globally. It details the city's efforts to combat pollution by converting 65,000 autorickshaws to CNG and expanding its electric vehicle fleet. Ahmedabad's Janmarg BRTS system, a public transit model, has significantly improved air quality and commuting experience, with state-of-the-art features like smart ticketing and real-time tracking, earning it national and international accolades.

Takeaways

• 🌿 The city of Ahmedabad is recognized for its environmental consciousness and efforts to combat global challenges.
• 🚌 Ahmedabad has successfully converted over 65,000 auto-rickshaws to CNG and increased its fleet of electric vehicles.
• 🏗️ The city has made significant infrastructure improvements, including new flyovers, river bridges, and underpasses.
• 🌆 Ahmedabad, the seventh-largest city in India, is noted for its high-density, mixed-income urban center.
• 🛣️ Despite having 2.2 million registered vehicles, the city maintains some of the lowest annual road fatalities in the country.
• 🚍 The Janmarg BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) is a citizen-centric initiative aimed at reducing individual vehicle usage.
• 🔄 The 89 km BRTS network is designed to connect various areas of the city, with 80% of it passing through lower and middle-income neighborhoods.
• 🏅 The Janmarg BRTS features state-of-the-art facilities like high-frequency bus services, smart ticketing, and real-time tracking systems.
• 🏛️ The project is a collaboration between Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and several other agencies, with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University as the principal consultant.
• 🏆 Janmarg BRTS has received multiple awards for innovation and excellence in public transport, including international recognition.

Q & A

What is the significance of the city's environmental consciousness as mentioned in the script?

The city's environmental consciousness is significant as it reflects its awareness of global environmental challenges and its proactive measures to convert over 65,000 auto rickshaws to CNG and replace old public transport vehicles with Euro 3 and Euro 4 compliant CNG buses.

How has the city improved its road network?

The city has improved its road network by building new flyovers, river bridges, road over bridges (ROBs), and underpasses, and by completing missing links.

What is the meaning of 'Janmar BRTS' and how does it contribute to the city's public transport?

Janmar BRTS, which means 'People's Way', is a citizen-centric initiative for moving people in a safe, secure, reliable, affordable, convenient, and comfortable mode of public transport. It is a scalable network and a core part of an integrated strategy to enhance the quality of commuting.

What are some of the features of the Janmar BRTS system?

Features of the Janmar BRTS system include a peak hour frequency of 2.5 minutes between buses, two media and bus lanes, split flyovers, tree-lined corridors, roadside resting benches, dedicated cycle tracks, service lanes, well-lit pedestrian paths, swanky bus stations with sensor-driven automatic doors, high floor Euro 3 and Euro 4 certified buses, RFID-based perfect docking alignment, offboard smart ticketing, and electronic passenger information systems.

How has the implementation of Janmar BRTS impacted the city's traffic and environment?

The implementation of Janmar BRTS has led to a 52% modal shift from private vehicles to public transportation, improved air quality, better traffic behavior, safer streets, and a six-fold increase in ridership within a year.

What is the role of Ahmedabad Janmar Limited in the BRTS system?

Ahmedabad Janmar Limited is a special purpose vehicle and a dedicated company created to manage and operate the BRTS system, ensuring a new and professional management culture.

How does the public-private partnership model contribute to the Janmar BRTS?

The public-private partnership model involves a gross cost contract with incentives and penalties to govern operations, including bus ownership and operations, fare collection, bus station cleaning and maintenance, pay and park facilities, landscape development, and other functions.

What is the significance of the partnership with CEPT University in the Janmar BRTS project?

CEPT University is a principal consultant for the Janmar BRTS project and has established a center of excellence, introducing a master's degree program in urban transportation planning and management, which adds a touch of class to the entire system.

What awards has the Janmar BRTS system won?

The Janmar BRTS system has won several awards including the Government of India's National Award for the Best Mass Transit System 2010, the Sustainable Transport Award 2010, the International Award 2010 for outstanding innovation in public transport from the International Transport Forum and the International Association for Public Transport, and the National Award for Excellence 2010 for the best new innovation project towards improvement in urban mobility.

How has the Janmar BRTS system been received by the public?

The Janmar BRTS system has been well-received by the public, with a monthly independent survey of passengers grading the services at more than 90% level of satisfaction.