The Hindu Business Line : `MMTC turns better alternative to other modes of transport'

NOTWITHSTANDING sceptics' comments on its viability, MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System) seems to have succeeded in attracting a sizeable number of customers. A recent survey showed that it has got immense potential provided that the Government remove some roadblocks.

The findings showed that the service has been a favourite with the people from the fringes.

The survey, conducted by Mr Sander Hartemink of University of Utrecht (Holland), found that the users were unhappy with the bus connectivity to railway stations.

If findings of this study are any indication, there is a vast scope to lessen the burden on city roads. Sixty-six per cent of the respondents said they shifted from using the bus to take the MMTS service. Fourteen per cent of them were using motorbikes and 80.4 per cent of them used the service every workday. The sample size was 250.

Mr Sander's survey was part of his research studies in human geography. A 50:50 joint venture between the Andhra Pradesh Government and South Central Railway, the MMTS sought to ease the traffic pressure in the twin cities.

With a view to provide muscle to the transport system, the joint venture partners had decided to set up a special vehicle purpose to raise Rs 1,000 crore. There are proposals to extend the network up to Bhongir and Shamshabad, where the international airport is coming up.

Seeing low occupancy rates, sceptics commented that MMTS was not a hit with the people and saw no future for it. The State Government, which initiated the project, was blamed for not providing the necessary access to the railway stations.

"More than 55 per cent of the respondents walked nearly one kilometre to get to the station and then to their destination. While 23 per cent of them used two-wheelers, only 8.8 per cent used buses to reach station, covering 8.9 km," Mr Sander told Business Line.

The writing on the wall was clear, the study pointed out.

Nearly all the respondents (95.2 per cent) felt that MMTS would be a boon for the poor and low-income sections and that it was a good alternative for other modes of transport.

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