Development of Integrated mobility systems is the need for the future” – CEO GMDA

“Development of Integrated mobility systems is the need for the future” – CEO GMDA

Gurugram, 15 July: As the Gurugram Metro Project gets rolling, GMDA is gearing up to further enhance the mobility factor and is working on various aspects to develop infrastructure for both motorised as well as non-motorised transport in the city. In a meeting held yesterday with officials of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) & World Bank, CEO GMDA Shri P.C. Meena discussed on the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy of Haryana and other key aspects of the Comprehensive Mobility Management Development Plan prepared for Gurugram by GMDA.

“The upcoming Gurugram Metro will further boost connectivity within the city and supporting infrastructure development to optimize maximum benefit of the metro services for the citizens will be undertaken by GMDA. TOD is an important aspect in ensuring financial sustainability and stability of the project and GMDA being the nodal department for mobility development in Gurugram will coordinate with all concerned departments in taking the metro project forward successfully,” said Shri P.C. Meena. 

The Transit Oriented Development Policy integrates land use and transport planning and focuses on creation of high-density mixed land use development in the influence zone of transit stations, i.e. within the walking distance of the transit station or along the vicinity of the metro corridor. TOD promotes densification in the influence area by providing higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR)/ Floor Space Index (FSI) and higher population & job density as compared to the areas around and beyond the influence areas. This will promote higher concentration of people within the walking distances of transit station, thereby increasing the ridership of the public transport and resulting in increased fare revenue and congestion reduction. 

The World Bank team submitted a presentation on the key aspects of TOD and how the principles can be applicable for Gurugram metro project.  Outlining that TOD also advocates pedestrian -friendly infrastructure to boost access to various facilities such as shopping, entertainment and workplaces to ensure that transit facilities can be efficiently utilized, the team showed keen interest on knowing the Authority’s planning in this regard.

CEO GMDA outlined that as per the Comprehensive Mobility Management Development Plan prepared for Gurugram and Manesar area by GMDA to facilitate long and short-term interventions to improve mobility in Gurugram between the years 2021 and 2041, special focus on developing pedestrian pathways and cycle tracks have already been taken up by the Authority to strengthen non-motorised transport in the city. He further added that to provide greater connectivity with the metro stations and to augment the use of public transportation via the rail network, GMDA will realign its micro-mobility planning to boost high quality integrated multi-modal transport system for the optimum use of facilities by the residents. He solicited the suggestions and ideas of World Bank officials to make the Gurugram metro project a successful venture and emphasized that all necessary action points will be taken up by GMDA. 

The matter of improving last mile connectivity was also raised by the World Bank team and CEO GMDA outlined that this too will be taken up by GMDA and the engagement of city buses to plug the gap of last mine connectivity will be looked into among other initiatives. 

He outlined that certain key metro stations in the new corridor such as sector 29, Subhash Chowk, among others can be leveraged for TOD Schemes by HMRTC and such locations may be identified for further implementation of the policy.

The Gurugram metro project which was recently approved by the Union Cabinet will seamlessly connect Old and New Gurugram and the metro route will include Sector 45, Cyber Park, Sector 46, Sector 47, Sector 48, Technology Park, Udyog Vihar Phase 6, Sector 10, Sector 37, Basai, Sector 9, Sector 7, Sector 4, Sector 5, Ashok Vihar, Sector 3, Krishna Chowk, Palam Vihar Extension, Palam Vihar, Sector 23 A, Sector 22, Udyog Vihar Phase 4, and CyberHub.