There was a Talk on “Urban Transport
in India: Beyond the Nano and Metro… and back to
the Basics”, delivered by Prof. Madhav Badami, Professor,
School of Urban Planning and McGill School of Environment,
McGill University, Montreal, Canada on 14th March, 2008
at 6.30 PM. The session was presided over by Mr. V Ravichandar,
CMD, Feedback Business Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd. &
Former Member, Bangalore Agenda Task Force.
Making a lucid analysis of the growth and pattern of the
transport system in the Urban Areas, Prof. Badami highlighted
the fact that in all these, the pedestrians and the cyclists
have been worst affected. Thee have also been adverse
impacts on road safety, congestion and air pollution.
In spite of the road congestions, traffic snarls, road
rages etc., the dream of an average middle class person
to own a car does not go away and several contributory
factors, including easy finance and subsidized fuel, assist
the fulfillment of such dream. Prof. Badami wondered as
to why, in spite of severe frustration with the anarchy
at the urban transport scene, there is a general acceptance
of the situation with an air of resignation. He suggested
that the motor vehicle-centric transport policy betrays
a lopsided scheme of priorities and unless it is reversed,
the situation would deteriorate from bad to worse.
The presentation by Prof. Badami was followed by a
livery discussion in which several members from the
floor took part.
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