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Lead
Intelligent transportation system
These systems are expected to solve the problems created
by the rapid growth of traffic in urban areas says Malabika Sarkar
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planned development and deployment of Intelligent Transportation System in a
developing country like India will greatly help in meeting the transportation
challenges further touching the world-class mobility services.
Intelligent Transportation System integrates Information
technology, communications (wireless, etc) and location (GIS, satellite navigation)
based technologies into roads, vehicles, traffic and transport management systems.
ITS ensures more informed travelers, planners, managers, buses and commercial
vehicle operators, emergency response services, etc, thereby facilitating safety,
equity, efficiency and environmental protection.
ITS is not a set of technologies and services that accrue more benefit to people
who can pay more, in fact it helps plan and manage safer mobility for pedestrians,
cyclists and vulnerable groups; as well as more reliable and dependable public
transport services.
Association of Intelligent Transportation System has been working closely with
the government to develop a national ITS framework. Different tolling system
results in rise of fatal accidents and huge money wastage, like on our national
highways and public transport initiatives. Talking more about the same Amitabh
Bajpai, President, AITS-India said, “ITS builds a standard platform for
tolling, commercial vehicle tracking and weigh-in-motion systems, etc so that
it does not become inconvenient and expensive to integrate later. Because of
the complex technology convergences required for ITS applications, auto and
civil engineering, information communication technology, electronics, satellite
and mapping technologies there is a need for a standard national framework to
facilitate interoperability and cost effectiveness.”
It is extremely important to integrate ITS more holistically into the national
urban and rural roads program, as well as the national highway development program
in India.
The official said that the ministry of urban development has been extremely
responsive and interested in working on some projects under their National Urban
Renewal Mission scheme, which has a hefty urban transport component.
Creating better infrastructure
The Ministry of Urban Development has shown a great commitment to improve the
urban transport scenario in India. “They also have the National Urban Renewal
Mission (NURM) initiative, which provides an institutional and financial framework
to support ITS integration in the cities identified under the NURM, so presently
we are focused on metropolitan, large and medium cities. These are also cities
that are suffering from problems resulting from higher motorization rates like
accidents, congestion, pollution, etc.,” Bajpai added.
Experience around the world has consistently shown that it is more efficient
to manage travel demand efficiently rather than build more roads, infrastructure
and vehicles. Therefore another focus area for ITS is to provide with tools
to plan, monitor, manage and maintain traffic and transportation systems rather
than to take up more space for roads, parking, etc, which can be used for housing
and green, community spaces.
It will also help increase reach and penetration of telephony and Internet services,
especially in smaller towns and villages. It will help create a cutting-edge
industry segment in India, which can provide solutions not just for agencies
around the world but for domestic demand as well.
- Lack of training and awareness of technology
complexities in government.
- Lack of policy harmonization - auto policy,
auto fuel policy, national urban transport policy, road safety policy,
telecom policies, etc.
- Lack of vibrant user and traveler associations
and public bodies to demand for better quality of public transport,
pedestrian and cycling facilities
- Lack of sufficient private-private partnerships,
like among auto manufacturers, ICT companies etc.
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Digital access index
Speaking about the usage of Information Communication Technology
or digital access index in India Bajpai exclaimed, “ICT is pretty poor,
contrary to popular perceptions. The ICT sector in Bangalore and Mumbai caters
primarily to foreign clients, so the London congestion-charging scheme had a
significant presence of Indian companies. The e-call (emergency call) system
being rolled out for European roads has a lot of software input from India,
yet Bangalore has one of the highest road congestion and pollution problems
in India like Mumbai, which also comes to a standstill during the monsoons with
rail tracks and roads flooded.” He further added, “In the digital
access index developed by the international telecom union (ITU), India falls
under ‘Medium’ category.”
A planned ITS development and deployment in India can greatly help in the ICT
sector not just earn high profits but generate social and economic wealth for
the country and improve the quality of life in cities, while improving technical
skill sets and increasing technology access, especially in medium and small
towns and rural areas.
- Safe and efficient travel, especially
for children, women, elderly, handicapped and the sick
- Clean, green travel that contributes to
a healthy society and high quality of life
- Equity in transport that rewards clean,
green, healthy, space-saving options
- A dynamic, robust, indigenous ITS industry
that compares with the best in the world
- Huge saving of money and fuel for the
nation by optimizing road and infrastructure use, efficient management
practices and encouraging alternatives to fuel guzzling mobility modes.
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AITS Initiatives
AITS has taken a number of development initiatives in India. One of them is
under the EU-India e-safety Cooperation, which has been identified as the
“Traffic Information Management Control Centre”. The main objective
of implementing TIMCC is to cooperate with related institutions and agencies
of transportation, law enforcement and emergency/event services and to establish
the TIC in Indian Urban City area and to share information with associated agencies,
media and the public.
Talking about another important initiative Bajpai said, “Another important
initiative taken is through the Indo-Italian Comprehensive Mobility Plan integrating
ITS, which has been submitted to the Delhi Government.” AITS is also working
on ITS based toll technology for national highways. The Indo –Italian Comprehensive
Mobility Plan aims at:
1. Improving the quality and reaching of mass transit travel
as an end-to-end service.
2. Improving air quality through regular monitoring and management.
3. Improving parking systems through better management, information and access.
4. Improving shared data and tools available to Delhi traffic police, MCD, NDMC,
DDA, etc.
5. Dynamically planning and managing traffic and transport systems through a
Traffic Information Monitoring & Management Centre (TIMCC).
6. Introducing limited traffic zones in some NDMC areas.
7. Upgrading and standardizing traveler information services for more informed
travel not just to give passive information like about congested areas, but
dynamic interactions like alternatives routes or modes available, timings, cost,
etc.
However, the first milestone for AITS would be the Common Wealth Games 2010,
and then consequently, the infrastructure and systems can be expanded to other
parts of Delhi.
1. Advanced traffic management applications
2. Emergency response and management systems
3. Road / infrastructure monitoring & management
4. Public transport monitoring, management and passenger information systems
5. Commercial Vehicle operations (CVO) for tracking, monitoring, managing
fleets, especially hazardous materials
6. Road and rail route planning
7. Advanced Traveller Information Systems
8. Environment monitoring and management
9. Electronic road pricing systems
10. Active and passive vehicle safety technologies
11. Parking management systems |
Bringing about efficiency in transportation
Technology plays a vital role in building a better transportation system.
It reduces damage to valuable national assets, like roads, highways, transit
centers and vehicles by tracking, monitoring and managing. It saves fuel, maintaining
the pollution level and increases productivity by reducing congestion, accidents,
reducing fatalities and injuries. Apart from that, implementation of intelligent
transportation system improves quality of life by increasing road safety, air
quality, efficient parking systems and mobility of vulnerable groups. It also
enhances community-commuting practices like on rail, buses, pedestrian and cycling
paths.
To fulfill the needs of a national transportation system, Intelligent Transportation
Systems is the new way of looking at and solving transportation problems. However,
ITS enables people and goods to move more safely and efficiently with the help
of a proper and organized infrastructure of transportation system. India is
still to have a well equipped ITS infrastructure.
malabika.sarkar@expressindia.com
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