Call to beef up public transportation system

Hitec City: There is a need to strengthen public transportation system, create walkable sidewalks/footpaths, quality public space and other good infrastructural facilities to make Indian cities globally competitive, said N V S Reddy, MD, Hyderabad Metro Rail. He was speaking at Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA)'s 1st annual infrastructure summit here on Thursday.

He said that the innovative metro station design, energy saving measures, designer sidewalks/footpaths, segregation of the main carriageway from the entry/exit points of metro station with steel railing, creation of bus bays, auto bays, service lanes etc., at the Hyderabad Metro Rail stations were attracting worldwide attention and that the development of these high quality facilities in PPP mode was being appreciated by several infrastructure experts.

The MD stated that currently about 2.30 lakh passengers were travelling by metro trains everyday and this was likely to go up very soon as every week about 4,000 new commuters were being added.

He also mentioned about government's intention to develop townships along the proposed Airport Express Metro Corridor via Outer Ring Road to keep the residential and commercial accommodation costs under control and to maintain Hyderabad's cost advantage as an affordable city for many decades to come.