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GIS based Composite Delhi Metro Map for Reduced Vehicular Pollution
Dr. Subhan Khan, Mr. Deepak Goel & Ms. Gulshan
National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS)
CSIR, Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, Pusa Gate, New Delhi - 110 012
Phone: (+91-11) - 2584 1758
Fax: (+91-11) - 2584 2382
Email: subhankhan1@yahoo.com,
deepakgo@rediffmail.com,
gul_75@rediffmail.com
Abstract
Since the increase usage of mapping technology and growing awareness of utility of spatial data in developmental planning, an attempt is made to generate GIS Based Composite Delhi Metro Map specifically to keep in view the reduction in Vehicular Pollution. The National Capital Territory of Delhi covers an area of 1486 sq Kms. The number of Motor Vehicles in Delhi is greater than numbers put together for Mumbai, Calcutta & Chennai metropolitan cities of India. According to an estimate1, the vehicular traffic contribution alone has increased from 64% to 72% in the last decade in Delhi. The heavy increase in the number of vehicles and consumption of petrol and diesel has contributed significantly. The main sources of pollution in Delhi are motor vehicles 64% - in which 70% are from two-wheelers; power plants 16%; industries 12%; and domestic 8%. On other side, the average number of persons killed per day on roads is five while injured is thirteen and buses contribute to majority of these accidents.
Based on the exhaustive studies on traffic and travel characteristics of Delhi in 1969-70 conducted by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), a constituent establishment of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, a recommendation was made for the Mass Rapid Transit Network for Delhi, which after subsequent reviews and modifications, led to an Integrated Multi Modal Mass Rapid Transport System (IMMRTS) for the city and finally it resulted in establishment of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which was registered on 03-05-1995 under the Companies Act, 19562. For creating a better environment, DMRC is viewed as a 'social sector' project. It is expected that it's benefits will pervade over wide sections of the society. For example, in first phase2, 21.82 lakh commuter trips per day will be siphoned off the roads, which mean 2,600 less buses on the roads; increase in average speed of road buses from 10.5 km/h to 14 km/h; saving of 26 lakh man hours per day due to reduced journey time; saving in fuel cost worth Rs 500 crores per year; more comfortable and safe travel for the commuters; reduction in accident rates; improvement in the quality of life and reduction in atmospheric pollution. In this phase of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is expected to be completed by 2005, which is claimed to be one of the most eco-friendly projects in Delhi as it is to be built up using the latest technical now how available in Metro Systems worldwide. The proper care is being taken that 30% of trees in the alignment are saved and it is also ensured that adequate compensatory forestry in consultation with the forest department of Delhi is to be raised in place of all trees and shrubs affected by the construction etc of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). The close check is to be kept on air and noise pollution during construction and adequate rehabilitation and fire protection measures to ensure minimum inconvenience to the public.
In fact, a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment has been done during 1994 to minimize the negative environmental impact of the project particularly at construction stage. Rainwater drains have been identified at various sites for drainage of wastewater from construction and sites have been earmarked at convenient locations for temporary and permanent disposal of soil erosion out of tunneling and other construction works. In this phase of the project, 38.596 ha of railway land, 180.2357 ha of non-railway government and semi government land and 187.98 ha of private land is to be acquired. The proper rehabilitation and re-settlement of persons affected by the project as well as the coordination work of various bodies to control traffic, water supply, and electricity, telephone lines etc. is to be attempted to provide an efficient and fast transportation system to the people of Delhi with minimum inconvenience2.
The use of GIS is extremely advantageous for urban networks such as railway network and road network. In the present study, the PC ARC/INFO is used along with other software to generate the composite Delhi metro map. The main outputs of the study was GIS based composite Delhi metro map for reduced vehicular pollution (Map 1) containing length in kilometer - underground; elevated; surface; MRTS stations; depots; high priority high capacity bus systems (HCBS) corridors and priority HCBS corridors; electric trolly bus HCBS, etc. It was possible to have a digital metro map for the city and to create data tables connected directly to it at a proper scale, which enable a complex network to be easily and economically maintained effectively. This would also help to decrease costs and increase people's standard of living, take less time and less excavation and road repair works in the city.
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