Out Of The Box Concepts That Can Ease Urban Traffic Congestion In India
Late in May 2016, Chinese company Shenzhen Hashi showcased a working scale model of the 3D Express Bus concept, also known as (straddling bus, straddle bus, land airbus or tunnel bus) or Transit Explore Bus (TEB) at the 13th Beijing International High-tech Expo. The idea seems simple enough. It’s ingenuity is in that existing city infrastructure does not need to be extensively remodeled to implement this interesting Mass/ Bus Rapid Transit System (MRTS/ BRTS) concept.
The bus is electrically operated and will draw power both from the grid and photo-voltaic cells installed on the roof. The smallest of them can carry 1,200 people, while the larger ones will carry around 200 people more. That means the TEB could replace up to 40 conventional buses, potentially saving an estimated 860 tons of fuel and preventing 2,640 tons of carbon emissions.
At an overall height of 4 meters, passengers might expect the ride to feel like the upper deck of a double decker bus. The TEB will reportedly only travel at about 60 kilometers per hour, but since it sits high above the traffic on dedicated rails, it can keep moving and therefore make good time.
The great news is that it is less expensive for cities, at only cost 20% of the cost of a proper metro. For instance, the firm says they could build the bus and a 40 km guideway for about 10% the cost of an equivalent subway (underground metro). That’s brilliant. TEB can also be built in about a year, as opposed to the 3-5 years it takes to build a metro since the infrastructure requirement is lower.
The concept also showcases several advanced safety features such as proximity warnings for vehicles driving underneath when they get too close to moving bus parts, and evacuation slides such as those found on aircraft for emergencies. Read more on Wikipedia or at The Guardian.
Upto seven Indian cities already operate BRTS with another seven planning to implement them. In most Indian cities, BRTS transport is air conditioned and therefore, also more comfortable.
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Unlike conventional buses, trams run on electricity and require infrastructure such as tracks and overhead electricity lines. However, their tracks can be embedded flush with road surfaces. So they can use existing road infrastructure to move around. This solution would work very well for small cities. Just getting enough people off cars and into comfortable public transport will save so much fuel and reduce pollution.
Forgive me for being a skeptic, but who makes money by building metros? Infrastructure companies. All the public will be left with is the burden of the debt, because believe it or not, metros don’t get constructed for free. They may be funded by some global development bank, but in the end, the money is going out of the Indian taxpayer’s pocket.
What do you think about these ideas? Leave a comment below.
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| INGENIOUS: Vehicles under 2 meters height will be able to drive under and through the bus |
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| RISING ABOVE: People will get on and off at elevated metro-style stations |
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| The concept attracted went viral on social media and attracted international media attention |
At an overall height of 4 meters, passengers might expect the ride to feel like the upper deck of a double decker bus. The TEB will reportedly only travel at about 60 kilometers per hour, but since it sits high above the traffic on dedicated rails, it can keep moving and therefore make good time.
The great news is that it is less expensive for cities, at only cost 20% of the cost of a proper metro. For instance, the firm says they could build the bus and a 40 km guideway for about 10% the cost of an equivalent subway (underground metro). That’s brilliant. TEB can also be built in about a year, as opposed to the 3-5 years it takes to build a metro since the infrastructure requirement is lower.
The concept also showcases several advanced safety features such as proximity warnings for vehicles driving underneath when they get too close to moving bus parts, and evacuation slides such as those found on aircraft for emergencies. Read more on Wikipedia or at The Guardian.
Bus Rapid Transit Systems
Even compared to the TEB, BRTS are easier to design and deploy. As opposed to MRTS, the infrastructure requirement is miniscule. BRTS only requires the designation of routes, known as corridors in which high-capacity buses have dedicated tracks. Since these buses can move unimpeded by existing city traffic, they provide a faster means of transit. |
| Passengers coming off the Linha Verde BRTS |
Upto seven Indian cities already operate BRTS with another seven planning to implement them. In most Indian cities, BRTS transport is air conditioned and therefore, also more comfortable.
Trams
Unlike conventional buses, trams run on electricity and require infrastructure such as tracks and overhead electricity lines. However, their tracks can be embedded flush with road surfaces. So they can use existing road infrastructure to move around. This solution would work very well for small cities. Just getting enough people off cars and into comfortable public transport will save so much fuel and reduce pollution.
Why can’t we do this in India?
We live in a country with more people than China and far, far less space: or money for that matter. So, why do Indian cities insist on building metros? Compared to building a metro, deploying a BRTS is a cake-walk. It is like instant gratification. So why don’t we do it?Forgive me for being a skeptic, but who makes money by building metros? Infrastructure companies. All the public will be left with is the burden of the debt, because believe it or not, metros don’t get constructed for free. They may be funded by some global development bank, but in the end, the money is going out of the Indian taxpayer’s pocket.
What do you think about these ideas? Leave a comment below.
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