Re: Rapid Bus Transit
IF you build , they will come. If Indian experience is any worth for pakistan then one would realize that people prefer in going from point A to B faster then sitting like a duck in a luxury car in traffic.
Mumbai has a local train system which is not world class but even rich people use it a lot as road trasportation in own car takes a lot of time. Delhi is a perfect example of how rich corporate types and vadera types sit next to a poor man in the metro. Given that delhi metro is indeed world class it has changed the way delhi travels and brought social equality.
Also Indian experience tell you that BRTS is not the solution of subcontinent’s traffic vows. Delhi has a BRTS system as well but people still like to travel in the metro. So they use BRTS as feeder to the metro. metro cannot go everywhere but BRTS can with relative ease. BRTS brings commuters from remote places to the metro.
mumbai has followed the same example, the monorail , brts and local trains will help METRO to reach out at longer distances.
Though kolkata metro started 20 years before delhi, it was never a success story due to delays and bad planning. delhi became a success story and is being replicated in other metros and tier 2 cities.
Point is, you cannot shy away from building public mobility infra. if people dont come today but be assured that they will come tomorrow. and if it succeeds then it can be replicated elsewhere and it is easier to get funding with a success story.
But all of that takes long term planning which cannot be dependent on the local politics which changes overnight. may be federal govt should help.