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URBAN TRANSPORT

SURAT INTEGRATED URBAN tariff integration. The city provides an efficient public Ÿ Public Transport network Coverage: 95%
transport system to its citizens with “one network, one
MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM timetable, one ticket, one fare. Concerns and effects on the social group:

Ÿ Increase independence on private vehicles
- by Surat Municipal Corporation, Gujarat KEY DATES:
Ÿ On-street parking and loading–unloading activities
Surat BRTS was inaugurated on 26th January 2014 and a
had an impact on vehicle travel speed near the market
Surat City bus sevice was inaugurated on 25th November and industrial areas
U ntil recently, 16.7 lakh vehicles were added in the last 10 years in Surat. With this huge addition of private 2016. Since its inauguration, there has been a remarkable Ÿ Low-income group are forced to use bicycles even in
increase in services, ridership and revenue. Below are
vehicles, the city faced issues like congestion, accidents, pollution and increase in travel time, etc.
some of the highlights in terms of achievement,
lengthy trips. This results in encroachments at various
Recognizing the futility of this in resolving mobility issues, the city reinvented itself by initiating an
integrated transport system development. The city defines the mobility vision as 'SARAL' which stands for Safe, performance and acknowledgement places (especially by migrant population – to stay near
Accessible, Reliable, Advanced and Low-carbon mobility in Surat. SARAL also means SIMPLE in Indian languages BACKGROUND: workplace avoiding lengthy trips)
and it states that 'Saral Parivahan – Sumrudh Janjeevan' meaning 'Simple Transport towards ensuring Prosperous Ÿ In absence of adequate and efficient public transport in
and Enriching Quality of Life for people of Surat'. The initiatives included integrated land use-transport planning, Surat continues to experience a high population growth past, a large number of private and para-transit modes
promotion of public transport and Non-Motorised Transportation, use of technology for sharing information and for rate for the last four decades, placing itself at the 8th have entered into the market to meet the travel demand
management, financial and institutional reforms. Along with this, the city developed an integrated public transport position in terms of population size countrywide as per
system consisting of: Census 2011. Parallel to industrial expansion, Surat Ÿ Women's safety during night hours and in shared auto
emerged as a major centre for trade and commerce in the service is one of the major concerns.
Ÿ 'One City One Card - Digitalization for cashless travel by integration of Automatic Fare Collection System region. It is estimated that Surat would be having 8-9
with Surat Money Card. million residents by 2031. City mobility plays a crucial Impacts:
Ÿ Surat Bicycle sharing scheme ( 600 Bicycles at 40 locations) for last mile connectivity and for short trips at role in helping a city meet its socio-economic needs. A Ÿ Acute traffic congestion resulting in inordinate
Central Zone & Athwa-gate to ONGC Colony. city requires efficient mobility for meeting the needs of delays
Ÿ Surat Municipal Corporation has formed its own business, commerce, services and education as well as to
Ÿ High rate of road accidents - Pedestrians are the
subsidiary company “Surat Sitilink Limited” to improve its environmental health. Shared auto-rickshaws
main victims
govern the administration and operations of the have taken a deep root as a significant mode of transport
Surat Public Transport system (BRTS, City Bus because of the insufficient public transportation in the Ÿ Decrease in average speed and increase in vehicle
and HMC). past. The number of private vehicles and para-transit operating cost
Ÿ BRTS over a network of 110 km (102 km as a options are creating congestion on city roads. Initially,
Ÿ Intense pollution of the environment
closed system). flyover was considered as a solution to decrease
Ÿ A City Bus System with amenities and facility over congestion. But with time, it was realized that flyovers are Ÿ Poor air quality (Average PM10 - 98μg/m3)
352 km of network. a short-term solution and a need was felt for a long-term ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIORITIES:
Ÿ High Mobility Corridor over 15 km of network sustainable solution in the form of good public transport.
(on Ring Road). The city had a negligible mass transit system and relied
The highlights of existing transport situations are
Ÿ Pink Auto rickshaw System driven by women as presented below: majorly on the local mode of Public Transport (auto &
last-mile connectivity system rickshaws) before 2014 when Bus Rapid Transit System
Ÿ Population estimated (2016) – 5.9 million was implemented. BRTS service is expanded to 110 km
(102 km closed network) on 12 routes with 207 buses on
Ÿ Total street network – 2578 km
In general, integration implies the opportunity to use road. It is notable that of the 102 km, 30 km of network
the entire public transport system within SMC or Ÿ Major Road network – 664 km received part funding (up to 50%) from national and state
SUDA area independently of transport modes, tariffs, governments with a balance borne by Surat Municipal
Ÿ Total vehicles registered (2018) – 3.0 million
fares, schedules, ticket systems, etc. The main tools Corporation. The remaining of full BRTS was initiated
used by the municipal corporation is to integrate Ÿ Average Travel speeds: Two-wheeler: 30 kmph, Three and built by SMC with its own funds (Cost per km – US $
public transport system are network integration and wheeler: 25 kmph, Public Transport: 20 kmph 2.5 Ml). BRTS is operational with 5 to 12 minutes' peak
Vision, Strategic Goals and Policy Directions

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