The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) will design and develop an ‘integrated zone’ near the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur.
NRDA’s Airport zone is spread over an area of 1192.56 hectares and the proposed land use is mainly for transportation purposes, officials stated.
The Naya Raipur city had been divided into six zones for which zoning plans are being prepared under Naya Raipur land Use Plan-2031.
The NRDA Planning Area consists of three layers mainly- Planning layer-I consisting of Naya Raipur city including the green belt area in 9522 hectares, the Planning layer-II consists of Peripheral Rural Zone in an area of 13,028 hectares and Planning layer-III consists of the Airport Zone spread in 1192.56 hectares.
Notably, the Naya Raipur Mass Transport ltd (NRMTl) is in the process of developing a total of three BRTS corridors covering a total of 40 kms with exclusive ‘Right of Way’ with the possibility of mixed route extension.
NRMTl established to act as a Special Purpose Vehicle to carry out the objectives of building, constructing and developing public transport system has proposed to develop the BRTS with private sector participation, officials stated.
The Corridor-I would be of 25 kms from Raipur Railway Station till Capitol Complex in Naya Raipur.
The Corridor-III would be of 17.8 kms within Naya Raipur.
To facilitate BRTS operations, the NRMTl would provide depots and workshops to park and service the vehicles when not in use.
The operator would maintain 30 air conditioned buses at routes designated by NRMTl. If the fleet requirement is more , 10 more buses would be provided by the operator of similar specifications.
An ‘Intelligent Tracking System’ (ITS) would be established under the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the new administrative capital.
A decision to this effect was taken in the 31st meeting of the Board of Directors of Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) held in the month of May here.
Under ITS, the tracing system for buses, operation and management of BRTS system would be carried out and ticketing process would also be linked. The system would be ready for use within the next nine months.
Notably, The World Bank has extended support to Rs179 crore BRTS project .
The buses would be fitted with CCTV cameras that can record each and every movement inside the bus. Wider passage-way for free movement, wider window panes for better visibility along with wider and lower entry/exit doors, make these new buses safe and convenient for commuters to enjoy public transportation.
Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat had earlier asked officials to develop an action plan for a bus Transit System even for old Raipur too.
The Raipur Bus Transit System should comprise a plan to connect the Raipur Bus Stand and Airport with Naya Raipur he had stated while chairing a meeting to review progress of work of Raipur Development Authority (RDA).
It may be recalled that the State Government has also created ‘Urban Traffic Fund’ and the management of the same will be in the hands of respective PTS in the State. The money in the fund will be provided from the interest received by concerned Municipal Corporation on the funds received for development works.
Raipur city received a fund of Rs 20 lakh, Durg-Bhilai Rs25 lakh, Bilaspur Rs20 lakh while Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Chirmiri and Jagdalpur have been allocated Rs15 lakh each, officials stated.
From the fund, expenses like stationary, electricity, telephone expenses etc will be met. However, the salary of the officers and employees will be paid by the concerned Municipal Corporation.
The State Government has constituted nine Public Transport Societies (PTS) for operation of city bus services in nine major cities and towns.
Funds to the tune of Rs1.60 crore have been allocated to these societies for the purpose.
According to official sources, the societies have been constituted for Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur, Chirmiri and Jagdalpur.
Notably, Naya Raipur is also among five other cities in the country chosen as ‘Demonstration Cities’ for the Centre’s ambitious Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP).
The final five cities participating as ‘Demonstration Cities’ under Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) are - Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Mysore (Karnataka), Naya Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad (Maharashtra).
Detailed project profiles were prepared by all cities with the assistance of the SUTP Consultants and then endorsed by the SUTP Steering Committee to be included to SUTP as ‘City Demonstration Projects’, officials stated.