THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system proposed by the Infrastructure Kerala Limited (Inkel) for Thiruvananthapuram city shows an encouraging potential, with a shift of 40 per cent of the car and autorickshaw travellers to the new system.
Though the pilot project is suggested from Vellayambalam to East Fort, it will be extended to other parts of the city in the next phase. The PRT will function as a feeder mode of transport to supplement the proposed monorail system.
Inkel managing director T Balakrishnan said the suitability of the project in Thiruvananthapuram has already been studied. The proposed stations are Vellayambalam, Palayam, Statue, Overbridge, East Fort and Thampanoor.
The traffic analysis shows that two per cent each out of 40 and 15 passengers in a bus and mini bus respectively will use this system. The major shift will be those who are using cars and autorickshaws and it comes to around 40 per cent of the passengers.
It is expected that approximately 28,000 persons would use this facility a day.
The biggest advantages of this system are better urban mobility, fast and time-bound transportation, personalised public transport, value creation, minimal land acquisition and no hindrance to road traffic.
Balakrishnan said a proposal has been submitted to the Government to implement the project through ‘Swiss Challenge’ method. As per this method, the developer who has given the original proposal has the opportunity for first right of refusal.
The developer has to match/raise his bid (rate) with the highest proposal tendered. The original proposer will have the opportunity to take up the project on highest offer, and in the event if he refuses, then the highest bidder will have right to implement the project.
No funding is needed from the Government to implement the project. Inkel has proposed a joint venture with Ultra Fairwood Pte Ltd for the pilot project. The approximate cost of the project is Rs 60 crore per kilometre and it can be completed in 24 to 30 months.