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CHENNAI, July 30

A NOVEL, mass rapid transport system that occupies very little urban space — in fact, generates space — offers the luxury of air-conditioned travel but cheaper than any public transport system available could well come true within the next few years if the claims of the Managing Director of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, Mr B. Rajaram, materialises.

Briefing presspersons about such a concept here on Monday, after making a presentation to the Tamil Nadu Government about the `sky bus', an elevated, rail-based passenger carrying coach, Mr Rajaram said the idea is an innovative application of existing systems.

While the conventional rail-based system involves movement of carriages on rails, the sky bus involves suspending the coaches from the rails. A matter of different designing using available mechanics, he said.

This proven technology with a rail guided bogie system used in normal railway systems affords many advantages, he said. The sky bus is safe because there is no question of derailment. Collision prevention mechanisms are in-built and the passengers would have a smoother and safer ride, he claimed.

In the conventional system the coaches will have to be heavy to maintain stability, but here the coaches are just one-fifth their weight, and are therefore cheaper to operate.

Further, since the sky bus rail is an elevated system, about 8 m above the ground, these can follow the alignment of existing roads and therefore occupy only about a metre-wide space at the ground level. But the elevated tracks are fully covered, and therefore, a concrete track is created that can be profitably utilised.

Being elevated, there is no question of traffic jam, signals or potholes, and average speeds of 45-60 km are made possible, according to Mr Rajaram.

While it is up to the Tamil Nadu Government to decide on the implementation, the financial mechanism has been worked out. A special project vehicle could be created to generate over the required funds estimated at Rs 45 crore per route km, including the rolling stock, compared to Rs 200 crore that would be needed for an underground metro. Construction would be fast because it would involve assembling of prefabricated structures.

Mr Rajaram said the idea has been endorsed by the Prime Minister's office, which has suggested that it could be tested on a 10 km stretch as a technology mission. The authorities in Mumbai are sufficiently taken up with the idea to consider setting up a sky bus system on a 9.8 km stretch between Andheri and Ghatkopar.

The estimated cost is Rs 450 crore and the Mumbai Development Authority has in-principle earmarked Rs 100 crore, according to Mr Rajaram.

To the Tamil Nadu Government, he has presented a possible route network between Muthialpet in North Chennai to Athipet in the west — via Koyambedu — and Mahabalipuram 45 km South of the city, he said.

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