Green transport to reduce CO2 emission

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PUNE: While Pune has already been selected as one of the nine cities to implement the Global Environment Facility-funded sustainable transport projects, the Union ministry of urban development has released a report stating the aims of the project, one of them being reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 9.6%.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) sustainable transport project was taken up by the Union government last year, for which the city was selected as a demonstration city, along with Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Hyderabad, Indore, Jalandhar, Mysore, Naya Raipur and Thiruvananthapuram to be implemented over a four-year period.

The aim of the project is to achieve a paradigm shift in India’s transport systems and to assist states and cities in preparing and implementing demonstration “Green transport” projects. Pune has been chosen to implement non-motorised transport and pedestrian facilities on the roads connecting two pilot routes of the bus rapid transit system (BRTS). The other GEF projects are integrated land use and transport facilities project, intelligent transport system and city centre traffic and environment improvement.

The report released by the Union urban development ministry observes that in Pune 34% daily emission of Carbon monoxide (CO) is contributed by the increasing number of two-wheelers. It further states that the population of the city has increased four times whereas vehicular population has increased 87 times and the road length has increased by only five times in the last four decades.

“The vehicular composition indicates that 75% of total vehicles are two-wheelers, 13% four-wheelers and 6%. 53% of work trips by city population are performed by two-wheelers and bicycles. The existing public transportation system falls short while catering to the rising demand. Only 15% of the vehicle kilometres travelled in the city is accounted for by public transportation,” the report, which is posted on PMC’s website, notes.

In Pune, the project aims at reconstruction of footpaths, taking pedestrian privatisation measures through traffic signals, pelican lights and road markings, construction of cycle lanes and delineating areas as pedestrian-friendly precincts.

Through the plans in all the cities, including Pune, the Union ministry aims to reduce the CO2 emissions and particulate matter emissions in the project cities. “The greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits thus achieved could be sold to countries with reduction commitments as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Thus, these projects are potential clean development mechanisms,” the report said.

Speaking to TOI, additional city engineer (roads) Vivek Kharvadkar said as the project has been approved in principle, the Pune Municipal Corporation has sent a final draft of the detailed project report for final approval from funding agencies. “We will then seek approval of local authorities and go ahead with implementing the project,” Kharvadkar said. He added that the Union report has been put up on PMC’s website as a policy started by municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi to keep citizens informed about upcoming projects.