Bhubaneswar was not too long ago awarded the title of ‘Metropolis with the Finest Public Transport System’ on the seventeenth City Mobility India (UMI) Convention in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This recognition celebrates town’s distinctive strategy to city mobility which extends far past merely increasing bus routes.
This yr’s UMI Convention targeted on ‘Standardisation and Optimisation of City Transport Options’. The convention explored visions for clear air cities, city freight, and options for small and medium cities in India. Among the many awards offered, Kochi was recognised because the ‘Metropolis with the Most Sustainable Transport System’, whereas Srinagar received the ‘Metropolis with the Finest Non-Motorised Transport System’.
This accolade marks the sixth time the Odisha authorities’s public transportation initiative, managed by the Capital Area City Transport (CRUT) company, has been recognised by the Centre for excellence in city mobility.
Sustainable, inclusive, and accessible transport
Established in 2018, CRUT serves because the spine of Bhubaneswar’s public transit system, with a mission to enhance mobility, cut back congestion, and prioritise sustainability. The affect is clear within the Mo Bus and Mo E-Trip providers, which have considerably modified how individuals transfer across the metropolis.
The Mo Bus system, comprising electrical and conventional buses, now spans 600 kilometres throughout 67 routes. The fleet serves over 1,00,000 passengers every day — a exceptional 200% improve in ridership since its launch in 2018.
One of many standout options of Bhubaneswar’s public transport system, the Mo Bus or ‘my bus’ fleet, is the inclusion of electrical buses designed to cut back emissions and promote a cleaner atmosphere. By introducing electrical buses, Bhubaneswar is making important strides in bettering air high quality and lowering noise air pollution — efforts that align with world traits towards greener public transport methods.
As an example, Copenhagen has built-in electrical buses into its fleet as a part of its objective to cut back carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. Equally, Singapore’s inexperienced transport initiatives, which purpose to impress the whole bus fleet by 2040, echo an identical dedication to sustainability.
Along with environmental advantages, the Mo Bus system prioritises security and inclusivity. Options like CCTV cameras, emergency panic buttons, and precedence seats for girls and kids be certain that passengers really feel safe. The system can be designed to accommodate seniors and other people with disabilities, making it accessible to a various inhabitants.
Creating jobs and connecting communities
A big milestone in Bhubaneswar’s dedication to inclusivity got here with the introduction of Mo E-Trip in 2022. This eco-friendly e-rickshaw service connects individuals to bus stops, providing inexpensive and protected last-mile connectivity. It’s significantly useful for aged passengers, ladies, and other people with disabilities, making certain that the transport community serves everybody.
Moreover, the Mo E-Trip initiative actively recruits ladies, transgender people, and other people dwelling with HIV as drivers, creating employment alternatives whereas selling gender and social inclusivity within the transport sector.
In simply 18 months, 150 people from marginalised teams had been skilled and inducted into the programme. Immediately, 80 drivers, together with ladies, transgender people, and other people dwelling with HIV function the e-rickshaw community, offering important last-mile connectivity whereas creating financial alternatives.
A number of buses on the Mo Bus community additionally supply ‘Information on Wheels’ — free English and Odia newspapers for passengers. The initiative encourages a tradition of studying whereas maintaining travellers knowledgeable about present affairs and information.
The Mo Bus system has not solely revolutionised town’s mobility but in addition integrated sensible applied sciences to make journey simpler for everybody. A first-rate instance is the revamped Mo Bus app, which simplifies commuting by serving to customers find close by bus stops inside 500 metres, plan journeys, and monitor buses in real-time, together with particulars like arrival occasions and bus occupancy.
For added comfort, customers can buy digital tickets and cell bus passes straight by means of the app.
CRUT has additionally pioneered India’s first disaggregated ticketing system that collects passenger information by gender, age, and incapacity to allow extra knowledgeable decision-making. This method identifies journey patterns — corresponding to peak journey occasions, most well-liked modes of transport, and well-liked routes — permitting CRUT to tailor providers to raised meet the wants of ladies and different demographics.
As an example, the info can information changes to bus schedules, improve frequency on well-liked routes, or assign feminine conductors for added security, making certain that public transport stays each responsive and inclusive.
Apparently, town can be dwelling to the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bus Terminal (BSABT), connecting Odisha by means of each interstate and intrastate bus routes. With 44 bus bays, six metropolis service bays, and parking for 111 buses, it accommodates over 30,000 passengers every day, making it a cornerstone of town’s transport infrastructure.
Supply: Sustainable Transport Award STA 2023 Highlight: Bhubaneswar, India: for Institute for Transportation and Improvement Coverage, Printed in September 2023
Edited by Khushi Arora
