Page 49 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP: TRANSPORTATION

COP-21, Paris and in COP-22, Marrakech. are unable to ensure a quick ship movement,
Shifting the public transport could be one of the which undermines the competitiveness of Indian
implementation strategies to achieve the above ports in global arena. Therefore, it is essential
target. Several cities have formulated investment that intermodal connectivity of major ports with
plans and expansion of existing lines, changes the hinterland is supplemented on a priority
in bus/ tram fleet, interconnectivity (park and basis to ensure sustained economic growth and
ride). Some cities have a very high share of bottlenecks in freight movement is minimised.
public transport. In others, public transport plays
a relatively minor role and is an equal alternative 2.2 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM
to car usage. In some cities, there are well Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is defined as
developed existing networks, while others are “the use of modern communications, computer
currently under expansion plans. A broad range and control technologies and systems to improve
of measures are developed to improve public mobility and transportation productivity, enhance
transport systems and promote the use of public safety, maximise utility of transportation facilities,
transport. Several lines were expanded, the save energy, and protect the environment”. ITS is
frequency of services were increased, enhanced a term used to refer to several inter-dependent
information flow and accessibility was ensured. transport modes and road technologies, and
New travel modes such as ‘light metro’ or mono- offers to check congestion, air pollution and road
rail have been implemented in several cities safety using intelligent communication systems.
worldwide. Information service to the citizens Information and communication technology
has been improved over a wide range of media (ICT) plays an important role in revolutionizing
about the real-time schedule of the services. the ITS. Intelligence can be embedded at all
levels of the systems e.g. in the vehicles and its
2.1.2 INTERMODAL CONNECTIVITY OF RAIL, subsystems, in the surrounding infrastructure,
ROAD AND PORTS in the energy supply, in the traffic management
The concept of connectivity via the development systems and in the services delivered by the
of regional infrastructure to link one country system. ITS is not restricted to road transport
to another is not new to Asia. In India, poor rail alone, but also plays an important role for
and road connectivity affects cargo movement other modes of transport like rail, water, air and
and concept of intermodal transport is MMTS. Internet of Things (IoT) makes these
evolving rather slowly. There is great scope for communications amongst different sub-system
improvement in rail-road connectivity with components possible, thereby enabling a new
major ports. Maritime infrastructure greatly realm of optimization and automation.
facilitates international trade and economic
growth. Therefore, a major port performance While highway capacity investments can deliver
indicator is intermodal connectivity. Intermodal a benefit-cost ratio of 2.7 to 1, ITS technologies
connectivity is relevant, because many ports can substantially improve this ratio to 9 to 1. ITS
can handle a larger share of the volumes with has demonstrated dramatic improvements in
the seamless assistance of intermodal transport traffic management and road safety in several
methodology. A higher share of intermodal countries of the world. Therefore for ITS, the
transport requires better connectivity between benefits far outweigh the investment hence
ports and intermodal terminals in the hinterland. its implementation in India is desirable and
Sea ports in India handle roughly 70% of all inevitable.
container volumes. Cargo handled at the 12
major ports in India has increased to >400 ITS brings together system users, vehicles and
million tonnes. Government of India has the infrastructure into one integrated system,
emphasized on development and modernization and enables these elements to exchange
of the port infrastructure, in order to become information for better management and use of
globally competitive. Currently, ports are unable available resources via (a) Smooth flow of traffic
to handle additional traffic because of slow and improved mobility on congested corridors,
evacuation of cargoes from the ports due while making them safer and efficient, and (b)
to inferior intermodal connectivity. Therefore Improving intermodal transfers, efficiency and
despite of having adequate capacity and modern reliability of transport.
cargo handling facilities and infrastructure, ports

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