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CM�s announcement on monorail hailed

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 15 � Consultant engineer Jyotirindra Narayan Khataniar has hailed the announcement made by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in his Budget speech on Monday that feasibility studies to introduce metro or monorail in Guwahati city would be taken up next year as a welcome declaration.

Khataniar, who mooted the idea of introduction of monorail in the city in 2008 as a mass rapid transit system (MRTS), said in a statement here that a dream has come true. Khataniar mooted the proposal after his visit to Sydney with Manishankar Aiyar, the then Minister, Department of North Eastern Region.

As per the advice of the Chief Minister (Letter No CM (Inv)/5/2008/5 dated 09.09.2008), Khataniar visited Sydney again for an on-the-spot study of the monorail system which is in operation there.

He studied the entire system there in association with M/s Violia Transport Ltd, Sydney and submitted a preliminary concept report on feasibility of monorail in Guwahati to the State Government in 2008, Khataniar said in his statement.

Monorail, the elevated and light mass rapid system is the best suitable option for a city like Guwahati for smooth traffic management aspect, as we do not have enough space for further widening of the existing roads and the only space that remains unutilised is the open space above the roads.

Other rail transit system is not advisable as it needs more space and is massive in nature in comparison to elevated monorail system and also expensive for operation with limited passengers. High groundwater level, waterlogging problems of Guwahati city and also high seismicity of the region are also accountable for other heavy rail transit systems, Khataniar said.

The monorail MRTS requires minimum space at ground of around 5 sq ft for placing the supports of the elevated structures on the ground at a maximum interval of 30m, which may be placed above the divider or footpath of the existing road.

Its stations are at elevated level, made of pre-fabricated structures, light and easy to handle, placed along the track, connected with elevators and stairs with ground.

It is light in nature, environment-friendly, pollution free , noise free, less power consumption, safe and micro processor-based control system connected with the central control room, comfortable, fast, attractive, may be designed and operated as per the demand, cost effective in comparison to normal rail mass transit system, among others.

The network was initially proposed covering the major areas of the city by considering two central monorail stations � one near Guwahati Club area and the other at Dispur area connecting numbers of different loops covering Noonmati to Airport, Khanapara to Guwahati club, Guwahati club to Sarusajai Stadium and Chandmari to Basistha, via RGB Road, said Khataniar.

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