Page 19 - Traffic Infra Tech Magazine

NEWS

MMRDA
Providing Environmental

Infrastructure

L life in the years to come and help better Mumbaikars to make use of the public

et’s accept that infrastructure
development is bound
the environment.
transport leaving behind their vehicles
to disturb environment,
at home and save vehicle operating
The
needs
progress,
world
especially in a city like
cost, fuel and help better environment.
Mumbai. The topic will light
lives can be transformed by it.
up endless debate and a lifetime will be development and growth. People’s Remember, Mumbaikars – at the end
of the day – are not tired of their job.
Infrastructure development is an
spent in finding out the correct balance. important requirement for this growth. They feel tired, jaded of their commute,
By the time, Mumbai will die an inactive Jerry A. Nathanson, who is a Professor congestion and helplessness irrespective
death without the either. Mumbai of Engineering reading at Union County of the modes of transport they use.
Metro network is a case study for all of College, Cranford, New Jersey and author The Metro like infrastructure is a must,
us to deliberate upon. of Basic Environmental Technology as far as a city like Mumbai is concerned.
Mumbai is unique. It deserves special terms this growth as Environmental At the same time, such infrastructure is
treatment as far as infra development is infrastructure – an infrastructure that impossible in a jiffy without even a minor
concerned. It also needs to protect its provides cities and towns with water disturbance to people’s existing routine
green cover. Given the scenario, what supply, waste disposal and pollution and social arrangements. Growing cities
should be of more pertinence for me, as control services. Environmental like Mumbai with so many geographical
an administrator, green cover or losing Engineering means any of a variety of and structural constraints need to
bread winners on the choked suburban means employed to limit damage done realign, renovate and reconstruct
rail network? The State Administration to the environment is synonymous to themselves with changing requirements
chose to undertake more than 275- controlling environmental damage and of people.
km long Metro Rail network, which is helping environment itself. It is given It’s my appeal to Mumbaikars,
a green-transport by its design and can that the Metro Rail network will control environmentalists, NGOs and the nature
make a far-reaching impact without pollution and help environment. The lovers to look at city’s requirements. We
damaging green cover of the city to a network will also save thousands of lives need to save it, nurture it and bring it
great extent. Yes, there will be some and as many families of the suburban back to its lost glory!
damage caused though, there are rail congestion woes – and hence is
enough rules, restrictions and mandatory necessary.
provisions to ensure the damage is first The suburban rail network is over
controlled and then compensated. saturated and threatening to hold
The Metro Rail uses regenerative the city standstill one day. However,
braking system which cuts back 30% the Metro network can and will
of the energy and environment control decongest suburban trains. The four
systems and the guidelines of Indian lakh Mumbaikars who enamour the
Green Building Council. The Metro also first Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro
does not use any fossil fuel. The project corridor every day vindicate the necessity
is a green-project – potential enough of Metro network and we expect about
to bring down CO2 levels by a great 35% of the suburban rail commuters
margin. Notwithstanding the high- to shift to Metro network. The air-
pitched arguments by environmentalists conditioned, comfortable, speedy and R A Rajeev
and NGOs, the project will save many a safe metro journey will also encourage Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

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