State plans 200-km long Rapid Bus Transit System in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam, India (Urban Transport News): The Andhra Pradesh government is planning an advanced Rapid Bus Transit System for the Visakhapatnam city. According to the state public transport department, the proposed Autonomous Connected Rapid Bus Transit System project is likely to be funded by the World Bank. According to the plan, the proposed bus rapid transit system would be a 200km-long and elevated corridor that would connect every nook and corner of the city with a halting point for every 500 meters.

The project will be implemented at low cost as no property will have to be acquired, no right of way issues, no need for expensive signalling system, no electrical overhead cables, and no rails required. However, the project is at the planning stage, boasts of simple design and is deemed to be cost-effective. Apart from public buses, the taxies, cargo vehicles, and other private vehicles may also use the corridor during non-peak hours.

Significantly, the system will be equipped with a dedicated software-based system that will not require a driver or a conductor. The proposal for the Rapid Bus Transit project has been made following the recent policy decision meeting over the public transport system organized by the Think Tank NITI Aayog in association with the World Bank in New Delhi.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the various states including Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, wherein stakeholders are believed to have decided to introduce the Autonomous Connected Rapid Bus Transit System on an experimental basis in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. An official who attended the meeting as a representative from Andhra Pradesh government said:

We are currently holding discussions with stakeholders. We will have to explain this project and the minutes-to-minutes of the NITI Aayog meet the Chief Minister. We have proposed this project in Visakhapatnam. If this system is okayed (sic), there will be no need for metro rails which are expensive.

He said that they also held discussions with experts in the public transport system to further discuss the project at the secretariat level. If implemented, the Visakhapatnam will be the first city in the country to have such a unique and automated public transport system.