Sustainable transport is a transport modal with no impact on environment and less usage of natural resources through fuel-efficient systems, space saving by development of public transport systems towards preserving the natural resources on earth for the future generations.

“Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (EST) is: Transportation that does not endanger public health or ecosystems and meets needs for access consistent with

(a) use of renewable resources at below their rates of regeneration, and

(b) use of non-renewable resources at below the rates of development of renewable substitutes.” – (OECD 1998)

Literature Review on evaluation, monitoring systems and effective indicators:

The indicators are essential in evaluation and monitoring of the goals in comparison with the existing situation. Evaluation helps in the measurement of outcomes or results of implementation while monitoring system focuses on the operation level. The evaluation and monitoring system works by feeding the output of one process as an input of others like monitoring system gives continuous feedback to evaluation and further decision making process.

“Monitoring is a continuous and systematic process carried out during the duration of an intervention, which generates quantitative data on the implementation of the intervention, but not usually on its effects. The intention is to correct any deviation from the operational objectives, and thus improve the performance of the program as well as facilitate subsequent evaluation.”[1]

Evaluation is continuous validation of the inputs from the monitoring systems based on the goal indicators. An indicator gives the measurement of goals to be achieved. As it is obvious that Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) are used to validate the achievement of goals in any organization, most of the time the managements remuneration’s and bonuses are tied to KPI’s emphasizing more on the goals to be achieved by the management. Similarly the same concept applies for the validation of goals achievement in sustainable transport.

Figure 1: Source: EUROPEAN COMMISSION: INDICATORS FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION[4]

Relevance checks whether objectives of sustainable transport address the current problems in the urbanized metropolitan cities.

Efficiency helps in measuring whether the sustainable outcomes are justifiable both economically and environmentally.

Effectiveness compares the objectives with its outcomes to measure how well the objectives were achieved.

Utility sustainability measures the obtained impact due to the outcomes of changes made towards sustainable transportation.

Sustainable development is a combination of 3 factors environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sustainable society.

Figure 2: Source: Google Images

Economic indicators for economic development are in line with achieving the economic factors like earnings, wealth, job opportunities and economic productivity.

Social indicators include public health, community living, culture and traditions.

Environmental indicators include the pollution in air quality due to GHG (Green House Gases), noise pollution, water contamination, loss or damage to natural resources, climate change etc.

Always quantifiable measures are most essential to setup the goals and peruse them.

The Enterprise:

The name of the chosen city for providing sustainable solutions in transport is called Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka (state), India. The discussion focuses on the sustainable transport options with multi-dimensions economic, environmental and socio-cultural solutions for future. The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) undertakes the planning and projects addressing the growing needs of the city. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) runs buses to service the public transport needs.

Bangalore is one of the India’s fastest populating cities due to the growth in Information technology exports (IT) and IT enabled services (ITES). Bangalore is the IT hub of India due to which this ‘Garden City’ is also called as ‘Silicon valley of India’.

A new master plan to develop infrastructure and changes in government policies to address the growing problems of congestion, air pollution, noise, productivity, accessibility and reduce the impact on climate and climate change to achieve by 2015.

The Motorization Index gives us the information about the rate of growth of motor vehicles on the roads of Bangalore.

Figure 3: Source: Congestion to De-motorisation – A Paradigm Shift for Bangalore

All the offices and Industries operate mostly from 10:00am to 5:00pm therefore the peak times for traffic congestion is due to the commuters in the morning and evenings.

The calculated population of Bangalore is 6,562,408 by 2010. The population is increasing at 35% every year among which 45% is due to migration from other cities and states. To address the growing demand for road networks, Congestion problems, and need for metro rail to commuters, land space for development, amount of air pollution due to the emissions from vehicles.

The fuel efficiency drops significantly due to the slow movement of vehicles during the congestion periods. The following table shows the average speed of vehicles in Km/hr which shows the wastage of fuel and thus its unnecessary emissions. “On an average each litre of fuel burnt (either petrol diesel or aviation fuel) contributes roughly 2.5–3.0 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, that directly illustrates the savings in green house gases for every litre of fuel saved from improved vehicle efficiencies and reductions in fuel consumption (McDonald 1999)”[2].

 

SUSTAINABILITY DIMENSIONS. Consider the 3 sustainability dimensions as they apply to this enterprise. In this section students should identify and describe the range of socio-cultural, economic and environmental dimensions that apply to the operation of the chosen enterprise and explain how each is relevant. Some dimensions may apply more to specific enterprises but some treatment of all three dimensions for all enterprises is required. This part of the report should be in essay form. (2-3 pages).

Sustainability Dimensions:

Sustainable development is based on 3 pillars as discussed earlier in Figure 2. The transport sector is a major contributor for the Green House Gas emissions. The key solution for achieving sustainable transport is to reduce the need for transport through urban city developments which supports shorter trips encouraging commuters to walk or use cycles. Develop transport corridors to enable greater accessibility for public transport while integration with alternate transport modes.

A few suggested achievable Solutions addressing the current transport issues towards sustainable transport in next 5 years i.e., by 2015 are

• Metro Rail Project
• Bus Rapid Transit System
• Greener Vehicle technologies
• Government Policies

All these four options include one or more dimensions of sustainability. Those dimensions are mentioned while discussing each solution.

Metro Rail Project:

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is building metro rail for Bangalore. This is planned to cover the higher traffic movement areas.

Figure 4: Source: BMRCL Metro rail Project (2007)[8]

The project under proposal by 2011 is expected to carry around 1.57 million people every day thereby reducing the road traffic and its relative environmental, economic and social factors. The frequency of service is scheduled to be for every 3 to 4 minutes during peak hours.

Environment Savings:

Air Pollution is expected to reduce the need for 15000 bus trips. On an average the distance travelled by commuters is about 8 Km a day and on average a bus consumes 2lt of fuel to travel 8km’s. On an average 120,000 Km of road travelling distance is reduced thereby resulting in reduction of demand for fuel for about 30,000lt a day, leading to reduction in emissions of about 75000 Kg of Green House Gases.

Metro Rail uses electricity as the energy source one might think to consider the GHG’s accounted for the generation of electricity. Karnataka generates 50% out of total power through thermal plants and remaining 50% through Hydro, Solar and Wind energies. Purchase of energy from renewable energy source eliminates the emissions.

Economical savings:

The fuel costs about Rs 60 to travel 10km by car while it costs only Rs 6 – 8 to travel on train. Saves lot of time since there is no time waste due to the traffic jam or congestion, time is money one can use the time saved to increase their productivity. So benefit for improvement in GDP. Car maintenance expenses are avoided.

Socio-cultural benefits:

More time to socialize with friends and family due to the saved time. Improved air quality and healthy life style encourages community living and contributes to the well being of society.

Bus Rapid Transit Sy