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Implementing bus rapid transit: A tale of two Indian cities

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  • Rizvi, Andrea
  • Sclar, Elliott

Abstract

The ongoing debate within the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) community over the relative importance of 'appropriate' design standards, the 'right' institutional setup and the need for 'political will' to the success of projects obscures the larger importance of the planning process to outcome effectiveness. Political leadership, institutions and design are important conditions that must be considered in the context of one another, but they are also conditions that will change and be influenced by the planning process. Drawing on case studies of Janmarg BRT in Ahmedabad, and the Delhi BRT in India's capital, we demonstrate the role of the planning process in influencing BRT project outcomes. The planning process is too often viewed as a sequence of steps in which design, institutions and leadership provide an unchanging framework in which planning proceeds. This ‘one-dimensional’ view needs be re-framed in ‘three-dimensions.’ It must explicitly also consider approach (i.e. strategy and tactics) and timing (i.e. both moment of action and duration). These in turn reshape design, institutions and leadership. Findings suggest that such a 'three-dimensional' planning process, when well timed, incremental and pragmatic may help to overcome institutional and design weaknesses, and to solidify political support. This improves viability and long-term system sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Rizvi, Andrea & Sclar, Elliott, 2014. "Implementing bus rapid transit: A tale of two Indian cities," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 194-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:48:y:2014:i:c:p:194-204
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Poku-Boansi, Michael & Marsden, Greg, 2018. "Bus rapid transit systems as a governance reform project," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 193-202.
    2. Wu, Irene & Pojani, Dorina, 2016. "Obstacles to the creation of successful bus rapid transit systems: The case of Bangkok," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 44-53.
    3. Arias, Juan F. & Bachmann, Chris, 2022. "Quantifying the relative importance of rapid transit implementation barriers: Evidence from ecuador," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    4. Malik, Bilal Zia & Rehman, Zia ur & Khan, Ammad Hassan & Akram, Waseem, 2021. "Investigating users' travel behaviours and perceptions of single-corridor BRT: Lessons from Lahore," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Pettersson, Fredrik & Sørensen, Claus Hedegaard, 2020. "Why do cities invest in bus priority measures? Policy, polity, and politics in Stockholm and Copenhagen," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 178-185.

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