A PROJECT ON

“OPTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE URBANMOBILITY

FOR AIZAWL CITY

with special reference to

Corridor Management along the Grand TrunkRoute”

PARTICIPANTS

Mr. K. Lalthawmmawia, Director, UD&PA Deptt. Govt. of MizoramMr. Vanlalmawia, Joint Director, UD&PA Deptt., Govt. of Mizoram

Mr. Vanlalsawma, Executive Officer, Aizawl Municipal Council

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT:

Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation Department,Government of Mizoram

DEPARTMENT/AGENCIES INVOLVED:

• Aizawl Municipal Council• Transport Department, Govt. of Mizoram

• Public Works Department, Govt. of Mizoram• Police (Traffic) Department, Govt. of Mizoram

Mizoram is sandwiched by Myanmar in the East andBangladesh in the West, Tripura in the North-West, Assamand Manipur in the North.Mizoram attained statehood in 1987.Geographically, Mizoram is one of the remotest states fromthe mainland, located in the North-Eastern corner.Mizoram has harsh terrains with steep slopes and deepgorges.

Location of Mizoram

About Mizoram

1) Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram is perched on narrow hillocks and ridges. It stands at700m to 1100m above MSL.2) Aizawl City Municipal Area is 128.9 sq km. and it has a population of 2.9 lakhs. The GreaterAizawl Urban Area covered by Master Plan (Vision 2030) is 160 Sq. Km.

1 (a) Objectives of the Project

1) Improve overall traffic movements within the city2) Improve pedestrian facilities and their safety3) Put in place a city level authority to oversee various issues in

urban transport planning4) Suggest short term, medium term and long term solutions.5) Identify a set of peculiar problems faced by hill cities and

suggest general measures to address them

1 (b) Scope of the Project1) Analyze various problems leading to traffic &

transportation along the North-South Corridor2) Analyze pattern of growth of motorized vehicles3) Assess and Identify trip characteristics4) Study similar exercise on feasibility studies in other hill

cities in India and abroad.5) Identify specific problems along the City’s North-South

Grand Corridor, in the following 3 major areas -(i) Congestion of vehicular traffic(ii) Parking problems(iii) Pedestrian mobility and safety

6) Recommend institutional mechanism for inter agency co-ordination

Salient Features of the North-South Corridor

Approximately 8 kms, it forms the main City ActivityCentre. All original settlements took place along this. Thereis an western extension of around 4 kms.

All govt. offices, business centres and schools and collegesare located along this corridor.

Since this corridor is the destination of all daily commuters,all arterial roads, pedestrian stairs lead to this corridor.

All major bus routes, and local taxis ply along this, resultingin heavy rush of traffic and traffic jams.

Growth of the City is unplanned, with haphazard growthsince the coming up of the city in the its formation in 1890.This has made the management of this corridor difficultwith narrow roads with no scope for extension.

2. Methodology1) Analyze various problems in traffic & transportation, by collecting

relevant statistics.2) Analyze pattern of growth of motorized vehicles by studying the

pattern of growth of vehicles in the city.3) Assess and Identify trip characteristics by conducting survey of sample

population.4) Study similar exercise on mobility plans/options in other hill cities in

India and abroad.5) Strategize transport policy and parking policy as an integrated part of

urban planning.6) Study the City Traffic & Transportation Plan already prepared under

JNNURM.7) Recommend institutional mechanism for inter agency co-ordination in

line with the Govt. of India’s Model Bill for UMTA.

3. Contribution to the City/Implementation Strategy

1) The Project will provide valuable inputs to the StateGovernment and the Municipality for taking up issues inurban transport for the City.

2) Survey data and analysis of specific problems addressed inthe Project will help the City authorities to address theissues.

3) Establishment of unified authority for the City will enablethe different agencies work together with common goalsand objectives.

4) The Project will give suggestions for short term andmedium & long term solutions for transportationproblems of the City.

4. Background of Aizawl City - Need forSustainable Urban Mobility Studies

Aizawl City, with a population of 2.9 lakh is a very fast growing city. Population growth and the high growth in vehicular traffic has resulted in

serious traffic congestions, along with issues in pedestrian safety andincrease in air and noise pollution.

The City Traffic & Transportation Plan (CTTP) touched upon UrbanTransport issues but emphasis was on building of infrastructure.

Being a hill city with difficult terrain, unique problems and solutions ofurban transport pose a different set of solutions suitable to its geographicalsettings.

There are a various Departments/Agencies having roles in urban roads,traffic and transport and there is no unified urban transport authority in theState/City.

There is no proper integration of land use and transport system.

5. Aizawl City – Salient features and problemsin mobility 1) Roads are narrow with poor geometric standard with limited scope for

improvements 2) Inadequate and poor quality of pedestrian facilities 3) Unorganized Public Transport System 4) Lack of adequate parking spaces, particularly off-street parking lots 5) Limited space for public transport system 6) Limited scope for Non-Motorized Transport 7) Increasing vehicular population, especially 2-wheelers and small cars 8) Poor road intersection at critical junctions 9) Pre-dominance of poorly organized local taxis 10) Absence/Inadequate terminals for maxicabs, buses and freight vehicles 11) Location of unregulated vehicular repair stations along major roads 12) Movement of freight vehicles into city centres 13) Warehouse/depots of commercial houses within city centres 14) Concentration of activities along City’s grand trunk route 15) Scarcity of developable or build-able land

6. Status of Data Collection1) Data relating to official documents already collected and put

to use.2) Survey of vehicular movements and related statistics by

conducting already completed.3) Trip Characteristics already identified by conducting survey by

taking a small sample.4) Master Plan of Aizawl City [Vision 2030] collected and

suggestions for transportation factored into.5) City Traffic & Transportation Plan for Aizawl City

7. Initial Findings Rush of vehicles at Peak Hours: There is huge rush of

vehicles along the grand trunk route during peak hours in themorning and evening. This could be attributed to – Concentration of govt. offices, business & commercial centres and

schools and colleges along the main route. Similar timings for govt. offices, schools and businessmen (9 a.m. to 5

p.m.) aggravating the situation. Surveys indicated that trips for work constitutes 35%, Education-

42%, Business & Shopping 13%.

Lack of pedestrian facilities along the grand trunk route andpoor facilities at major intersection points. Efforts need to beput to improve pedestrian facilities and their safety concernswith special focus at traffic junctions.

7. Initial Findings (cont.) Poor facilities of public transport system, particularly the

city buses. This could be attributed to unorganized natureof ownership and management of buses. Poor passengerfacilities and absence of proper waiting sheds.

Absence of Parking facilities, particularly off-street parking.This results in proliferation of on-street parking, makingpressure on the narrow roads. Emphasis needs to be givento having multi-storey parking lots at convenient locations.

Absence of Co-ordination among the Agencies is onereason for difficulty in addressing mobility issues.

8. Analysis of Problems and Suggestions Problems of the Peak Hours:

Major problem in peak hour is due to concentration of govt. offices, businesscentres and educational centres along the main route.

Similar working hour (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for all the above is the majorproblem.

Major policy issues need to be taken to address the above issues like, 1)differential working hours for schools, etc. and 2) relocation of govt. officesin the new secretariat complex at Khatla.

Pedestrian Facilities and Safety: The City planning is not pedestrian friendly Pedestrian facilities at critical places, especially the major traffic junctions

need to be given priority for better mobility and for safety. Improving the Public Transport:

Public Transport, especially buses need to improve significantly, with thefollowing suggestions.

Short-term measures include construction of bus-waiting sheds where noneexist, and improve the existing poor sheds.

Medium and Long run solutions could include organization of bus ownershipand improving the quality of buses.

9. Analysis of Problems and Suggestions

Parking Facilities: Short term solutions will focus on regulation of on-street parking to

reduce stress of vehicular traffic on the roads. Medium and long term measures will focus on construction of multi-

storey car parking lots at convenient/selected locations. Absence of Co-ordination among the Agencies and need for unified

authority: Different Departments/Agencies are dealing with different aspects of

urban transport, viz. 1) Traffic Police, 2) Transport Deptt., 3) AizawlMunicipal Council, 4) PWD. There needs to be a focal point of activitiesand co-ordination of activities.

An unified authority will need to be established, either under thechairmanship of Chief Minister/Minister of Transport/UD or ChiefSecretary (to be finalized after thorough discussions with higherauthorities in the AMC and State Government-to be initially made bygovernment notification.

Legislation of UMTA in lines with the model Act of Govt. of India will betaken up as a medium term plan.

10. Way Forward

The Group focuses on suggestions which areimplementable in the short-term period (up to 3years).

Implementation Schedule of proposals will beworked out.

Suggestions for Medium and Long Terms will beput forward for follow-up actions by the unifiedauthority.

VIEW OF AIZAWL CITY

Northern Part of Aizawl City

Middle & Southern Part of Aizawl City

Typical traffic congestion in Aizawl City. Severe trafficcongestions seriously impacted the mobility within the City.

Absence of Pedestrian Crossings at MajorJunctions

Heavy Traffic Junctions

Poor Pedestrian facilities

Steep Slopes have seriously restricted road widening at various places

Narrow roads on steep slopes at different gradients. Vertical linkages of differentlevels of roads by stairs for pedestrian movement pose a serious challenge.

Narrow roads on steep slopes at different gradients. Vertical linkages of differentlevels of roads by stairs for pedestrian movement pose a serious challenge.

AERIAL VIEW OF AIZAWL

ROADS NETWORKS WITHIN AIZAWL CITY

THANK YOU

AERIAL VIEW OF AIZAWL

ROADS NETWORKS WITHIN AIZAWL CITY

THANK YOU