Public not ready to pay more

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The preliminary survey for the proposed Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system in Thiruvananthapuram city has revealed that the public do not want to spend more for their travel. The public, who are depending on the public transport system and autorickshaws, expressed their willingness to spend the same amount they provide as fare to autorickshaws. Still, they are not aware of the convenience of travel, once this project is implemented.Infrastructures Kerala Ltd (INKEL) and Ultra Fairwood Pte Ltd, Singapore, the agencies to implement the project, have entrusted the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) with the task of carrying out a detailed survey in the city. The team has collected information from the public at bus stations, railway station, residences and bus stops along the proposed PRT route.The proposed stations of the PRT are, Vellayambalam, Palayam, Statue, Overbridge, East Fort and Thampanoor. Though the pilot project is suggested from Vellayambalam to East Fort, it will be extended to other parts of the city in the next phase.The survey was conducted among the people who   travel regularly in buses and autorickshaws. The survey focused on the mode of travel and distance they covered the previous day.Sources said that the survey has almost been completed and the findings will be complied to prepare a report. The public, who are using buses, are willing to spend two times the present fare. Some are also ready to spend autorickshaw fare if the new system is more convenient to them. A questionnaire has been prepared for the survey and the majority was happy on saving time in their travel.Once PRT is implemented, it is expected that 40 per cent of the car and autorickshaw users will shift to the new system. This will also function as a feeder mode of transport to supplement the proposed monorail system.The cabinet meeting has already given the nod for the formation of a company on private-public participation. The government has allotted Rs 25 lakh in the budget for PRT.The PRT will use small, automated battery-operated pod-cars running on elevated guideways along major road corridors. Each pod will be able to carry up to six passengers from point to point along the identified routes at an average speed of 40 km per hour.