Hi All,

As a side effect of the Bangalore Metro project, the Mysore Urban
Development Authority (MUDA) is asking for a study on the feasibility of a
Metro for Mysore (see article below).
Depending on your point of view, this could be termed as a sagacious,
far-sighted measure or a mindless case of neighbour envy, keeping up with
the Joneses.

Mysore's population is, I think, in the 1-2 million range. Having been a
state capital, it is a well laid-out, pleasant city and, along with
Mangalore, competes to be the second city of Karnataka. It has some industry
(eg. TVS Motors). a fledgling IT presence in the form of a huge Infosys
facility, some good educational institutions and a pleasant climate (though
not as good as Bangalore). All in all, a lot of good things going for it,
with potential for future growth.

Nevertheless, a Metro, atleast at this stage, would be a huge overkill. IMO,
what would infact be ideal for a place like Mysore would be Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT). In terms of size, Mysore is probably similar to cities like
Curitaba that have made such a success of BRT. Size-wise, even with the
speed penalty of bus vis-à-vis train, a cross town journey is unlikely to be
in excess of half an hour. Plus, personal vehicle ownership hasn't yet
started to explode, unlike in Bangalore.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that a 2-3 route BRT,
with beefed up bus services on complementary routes, would really do wonders
for the place, as well as serve as a role model for other cities in the
country.
Over time, as volumes scale up, Light Rail (Trams) can be used to replace
the buses along the same right of way, at a small incremental cost.

To the BRT fans on this group, I humbly suggest that instead of touting it
as the magic bullet to cure all ills irrespective of the local context, they
should focus their efforts on similar sized, second tier towns (Coimbature,
Vizag, Indore, Chandigarh etc.) where a stellar success of such a transport
mode could be made.
I am not saying it has no role in the Big Cities - I am sure at least some
of them will build such in the future to complement their metros. However
for the biggies, metro rail based mass transit has to form the backbone of
any viable system, around which other modes can evolve. Given the new found
sex appeal of metro rail, thanks to the DMRC, most of the time, energy and
money of the Bombay, Bangalore and Chennaiwallahs will be focused on this
task, perhaps for the next decade or two.

To sum up, what I am advocating is a "horses for courses" strategy, with
Metro in Delhi/Bangalore, Sky Bus in Madgaon and BRT in Mysore. As Chairman
Mao (in)famously said, let a thousand flowers bloom.

cheers
Ashwin

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http://www.starofmysore.com/searchinfo.asp?search1=5759&search2=newsheadlines

MUDA plans Metro Rail for city

Mysore, Apr. 5 (RR&BRS)- Bangalore is getting its Metro Rail Track to ease
the mounting pressures on its ever-growing traffic. Can Mysore be left far
behind? No, if the initiative taken by Mysore Urban Development Authority
(MUDA) is any indication.

Metro Rail survey is one of the noteworthy proposals that figured in its
budget presented yesterday by MUDA Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey.

The officials of Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS), who are implementing
the Metro Rail System in Bangalore, are being requested by MUDA to carry out
a survey on a similar system in Mysore and submit a report.

Pandey disclosed this information in the press meet held in his office with
the objective of giving details about the budget of the Authority for the
ensuing year.

Mysore's Metro Rail Project was being thought of in the backdrop of the
city's expanding population as well as the rising density of vehicles on the
city's roads and aimed at improving the traffic flow. The report based on
the survey has been sought to be submitted in about three or four month's
time, the Commissioner explained.

Personnel in MUDA as well as the Railways Department here are extending
their support to the officials of Mass Rapid Transport System in the survey,
which will be taken up soon after the clearances are obtained from the
Government, Pandey disclosed.

The cost of the survey as well as preparation of the report and the
blueprint will be met by MUDA, he added. There was no compulsion for
creating the Metro Rail underground. Therefore, MRTS officials have been
requested to conduct the survey for the rail above the ground only, he
disclosed.

MUDA had also decided to create a heritage park in the 35 acres of land
facing Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace, for which Rs. 50 lakh had been set apart
in this year's budget, Pandey explained.

The park will have models of the city's heritage structures as well as
medicinal plants, explained MUDA in-charge Chairman and Deputy Commissioner
G. Kumar Naik, who was also present in the press meet.

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