Page 35 - TT nov - dec 2024 pdf for edition
P. 35
TRAFFICINFRATECH EXPO 2024
L to R - Shreenivas Prabhakarrao, Mangala Chandran, Prof Ashish Verma, Michael Shuch & Manjunath Sekhar
is available for the asking. Prof. Verma said that historically, and energy, there is an impact
Sustainability needs to become the way transportation solutions on local environment and the
a mandatory requirement in the have been addressed has climate, leading to the realisation
public procurement process; been supply-centric. Physical that a supply-centric approach
it should be non-negotiable infrastructure for future needs is is no longer sustainable for
and include the whole product looked at and roads are added, this planet. Adding to these
lifecycle. There must be regional widened and flyovers created. conditions, emerging economies
and global collaboration With limited resources like land like India have heterogeneity
when it comes to policies on
sustainability. Unlike the EU
model, India would do well not
to over-regulate for it will stifle Post independence
innovation. Cultivating this in the the railways share
beginning of the growth curve of passengers was
will ensure a sustainable legacy almost 80% while
for the country.
road was just about
20%. Today it is almost
the reverse. This is the
unsustainable situation
we have got ourselves into
and if we keep investing in and supplying more
highways we will see as now, a rise in the number
of accidents. We therefore need to strike a balance.
Countries like Austria and Germany with much
higher GDP and per capita annual income have 60%
of their population using public transport. We need
to bring about this change in India.
– Ashish Verma
www.trafficinfratech.com / Nov. - Dec. 2024 / TRAFFICINFRATECH 35
