Kamal Nath suggests test drive in medium-sized Indian city to gauge efficacy

Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath suggested initiation of a pilot project on tramways integrated with the transport systems in a medium-sized city. After a successful trial, tramways should be introduced in tier II cities and connected with major bus and rail stations, he observed.
Addressing an Indo-French seminar on ‘sustainable cities – next generation tramways solutions’ organised, Mr Nath said, “A tramway model integrates well and connects the areas within city and intercity where metro, BRT and monorail cannot go. Tramways allow towns to capture the economic impulse and density generated by large cities.”
He said, “Tramways’ new rapid transit system can be used for moving people or freight. It is electrically powered, fully automated (driverless) and operates using intelligent drive bogies travelling inside a fixed guide way.”
Mr. Nath also added, “Guide way support construction projects are fast and inexpensive, minimising neighbourhood disruption in comparison to any at-grade rail system. Operating costs are lower than for buses. A tram system will provide easy interoperability with first-mile or last-mile modes such as bikes and walking, existing transportation systems, as well as high speed rail and rapid transportation systems of the future.”

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