Flyovers and FOBs not sustainable in long term: MoUD

A day after the recommendation of the empowered committee of state legislative assembly for the construction of foot over bridge (FOB) on BRTS, a team from JNNURM and Union ministry of urban development on Wednesday downplay the idea of FOB at BRTS.SK Lohia, joint secretary of Union ministry of urban development termed FOB a short-term solution to public transport. “Construction of FOB or flyovers are not a very good idea it can be instant solution but not in long-term interest of public transport,” said Lohia, adding that many countries have demolished FOB and flyovers.

He insists on insist on developing alternate route and subsidiaries pathways and roads to main road.

He also downplays the suggestion of empowered committee of state legislative assembly to have separate lane for two-wheelers on theBRTS corridor. He said the focus of national urban transport policy is on moving people not vehicles. “Providing broader road for vehicles is not the solution to urban transport as there is a limit to widening of road. Solution is equitable distribution of space to all,” he said.

Lohia said with the success of ibus, the number of vehicles in motor vehicle lane will come down as more many people will shift to public transport. Using private vehicle for many is not by choice but is compulsion in absence of proper public transport. If we have good public transport then many people will opt for it. It is not mean that uses of private vehicle will end but number of riders of public transport will increase and it will ultimately reduce the traffic on motor vehicle lane.

He said unfortunately public transport is constitutionally and institutionally orphan, so they are trying to set up an urban transit authority which will integrate the all the departments related to public transport.