Tamil Nadu needs to think beyond the metro, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin criticized the Union government for denying metro rail projects to Coimbatore and Madurai.
• Metros consume nearly 40% of all urban development funds in India, yet serve only 5-12% of daily trips in most metro cities.
• The average daily commute for most of India's informal urban workers is just 4-5 kilometres.
• A metro costs between ₹300 crore-900 crore per kilometre, placing a significant financial strain on cities.
• Cities like Curitiba, Bogotá, and Copenhagen redefined urban mobility without relying heavily on metros.

Detailed Insights:

• India's metro obsession is relatively new, driven by an elite desire for "world-class" cities, misaligned with the mobility needs of most citizens.
• Metros do not serve the functional needs of the majority who undertake short, dense journeys, instead catering to long-distance travel.
• Cities comparable to Madurai or Coimbatore prioritize buses, surface-level rapid transit, cycling, and pedestrian-friendly planning over metros.
• Tamil Nadu has the opportunity to reimagine urban mobility with electric buses, pedestrian zones, cycle highways, and integrated shared mobility.
• Modern mobility should focus on access, affordability, last-mile connectivity, and quality, rather than the scale of infrastructure.
• Investing in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) moves more people per rupee compared to metros, offering a cost-effective solution.
• 15-minute communities, where essential services are within walking or cycling distance, represent a modern, climate-sensitive urban planning approach.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Urban Mobility: The ease with which people can move within a city, encompassing various modes of transport.
• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): A bus-based public transport system designed to improve capacity and reliability relative to a conventional bus system.
• 15-Minute City: An urban planning concept where most daily necessities can be accomplished within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from a residence.