Japan cooperates with India for Monorail Project
As per a report released on Monday by the Press Information Bureau, the Japanese Government and Japanese companies would be cooperating with India, for developing metro systems in the country. The Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Kamal Nath said that this cooperation would be extended for the development of Monorail and Light Rail Transit system in various cities of India.
The minister said that its high time the country started looking beyond the traditional metro systems and develop other systems like the monorail. He told that such systems could be implemented in a sustainable manner, and would prove useful to manage traffic in congested areas. He also mentioned that these systems are essential to supplement the metro system, as demonstrated by the Japanese.
Mr. Hiroshi Kajiyama, the Japanese Senior Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said that, keeping in mind the growing population, India needs to be developed in an integrated manner. Cooperation between the two countries would help in enhancing the urban development, like transport and drainage, in India.
Future plans
As per 2011 census, there are about 53 cities that have a population of million plus. The working group had recommended for a Light Rail Transit system to the Urban Transport, for the 12th Five Year Plan for all such cities.
Ms. Sheila Dixit, addressing the conference, mentioned that pollution-free modes of transport like the tramp and monorail would be adopted in the capital city, to cater to the needs of its congested areas. She informed that a monorail project, covering a distance of about 11km, is planned to be completed in Delhi by 2017. This project would cover areas between Shastri Park to Trilok Puri.
Maharashtra State Government has started the construction work of two corridors of monorail in the city of Mumbai. Detailed project reports for the monorail project have been prepared by the State Governments of Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Kerala too.
Though monorail is supposed to be less expensive than the metro, the industry experts mention that the latter is more efficient, in terms of carrying capacity of passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD).
According to the high-powered expert committee’s report of March 2011, it was estimated that urban infrastructure and services in India would cost around Rs. 39 crores, by 2031. Out of this, more than half the amount (about Rs.23 crores) would be required for the development of urban transport and roads.
