SMART TRANSPORTATION

TECHNOLOGIES IN CHENNAI
Contents

 Introduction

 Smart Transportation Systems

 Intelligent Transportation Systems

 Smart Infrastructure

 Smart Automobiles

 Sustainable Fuels

 ITS in Chennai

 Benefits
 Introduction

 Like any metropolis in India, the rapidly expanding Chennai is at a crossroads

so far as transportation is concerned.

 Given the city’s expanse and demographic profile, there is a huge demand for
more modern transport, and the government is trying to meet that with metro,
monorail and intelligent transportation system.

 Chennai is a fast-growing city and there is definitely demographic (population)

pressure on the public transportation system as well on other urban amenities.
 The demand is increasing but at the same time the state has endeavored to
ensure that they will fulfil the growing demands.

 Several new services have been added in recent times, other faster
transportation systems are also under implementation – such as metro rail
(work on), monorail (proposed).

 The city will have an efficient transportation system once these systems come
into operation.
 Challenges

 While there is a need to augment the work towards improving the

transportation in the city, there are some inherent challenges and threats
 Smart transportation can be ushered in through improvements in four major
areas:
 Intelligent Transport Systems

 Involves a number of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

interventions used for efficiently managing transportation.

1) Passenger Information Systems

• These systems provide real time information to passengers using a public

transport system.

• Usually the expected time of arrival (ETA) is displayed on electronic sign

boards at the bus stands, MRT platforms or the Airports and Railway stations.
2) Real-time parking management

• Provides the information related to available parking lots through a

publically displayed electronic sign board.

3) Smart cards

 Smart Integrated cards allow citizens to pay for any type of public
transportation through single smart card

 The need is for large scale adoption of such smart technologies to improve
public transportation in India
3) Electronic toll collection

• Electronic toll collection systems are RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) based
systems that read from a distance and automatically deduct the toll at each entry.

• Saves queue-time and fuel cost at the toll gates.

• Better traffic management by reducing congestion.

4) Smart parking assist

• use of sensors.
• For inexperienced drivers and learners the technology increases
 safety,
 Efficiency
 comfort
 Smart Infrastructure

 Development of expressways, highways, waterways and improved and efficient

sea and airports.

 However, the emphasis will be on surface and water transportation as these two
are more cost effective means.

 Major economic activity is generated through freight transportation. In Chennai,

the roads remain the primary infrastructure for freight movement (65% of freight
moves through roads).
 Over the next five years in large scale infrastructure development for urban
mobility, the government is also building infrastructure to promote non-
motorized transport (NMT) such as bicycles, cycle rickshaws and pedestrian
walkways for city traffic.

 The High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC) of India was set up by the
government in 2012 to design and implement the country’s high speed projects.

 ‘Diamond Quadrilateral’, a proposed high speed network spanning the country,

connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, were initiated.
 Highest priority would be given to developing waterways to reduce transportation
costs.

 In a first, in February 2016, domestic cargo was moved through coastal shipping
from Chennai Port to Pipav, Gujarat for transporting 800 new units of a car.
 Under the AMRUT Scheme, focus of Urban Transport is on developing:
• Ferry vessels for inland waterways (excluding port/bay infrastructure) and
buses
• Footpaths/walkways, sidewalks, foot over-bridges and facilities for non-
motorised transport (bicycles and cycle-rickshaws)
• Multimodal Integrated MRT/Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS)
 Smart Automobiles
Vehicle Technologies

 Anti-lock braking system & Electronic Stability Program

 Automated Manual Transmission

 Crash Testing

 Automation & Traceability

 Soft-feel interiors

 Electrical Vehicles
Connected Cars
 Sustainable Fuels

 Due to rapid urbanization, there is an increase in Green House Gas

emissions contributing to an expanding carbon footprint and forcing the need for
adoption of a clean and sustainable technology.

 As a step to control these emissions, the Supreme Court banned the sale of vehicles
with diesel engines of 2,000 cc capacity.
 Two important factors are to be considered in India for reducing carbon
emission are:
 periodic inspection,
 maintenance of in-use vehicles and
 better road and traffic management
 Alternate Fuels:
 Bio-fuels, ethanol, and compressed natural gas (CNG) are clean fuels
 Electric and solar powered vehicles are also being promoted
 CNG has already become a popular fuel in India due to its low cost.
 Clean fuel technologies are applicable in all modes of transport, viz.
roads/BRTs, MRTs, railways, freight, waterborne transport and aviation.
 In 2015, for the first time Indian Railways used CNG as a fuel for a passenger
train.
 Emission standards:
 India follows Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards
 Japan International Cooperation Agency

 Chennai is all set to get an ‘intelligent transportation system’ covering at least

150 junctions with financial aid from Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA).

 The smart transport system aims at offering commuters comfortable, reliable,

quick, affordable and safe access.

 It would involve a combination of factors: developing apps; feeding information

to users on public transportation systems; installation of cameras; automatic
number plate readers at junctions; and pan tilt zoom cameras.
 The implementation of intelligent transportation system is expected to increase the
share of buses to 46 per cent from 22 per cent.

 Other aspects such as real time passenger information for bus commuters, cycle
sharing system, parking management system, and multimodal coordination are
expected to get priority.

 The data from these intelligent systems could be used for designing
flyovers and other infrastructure projects.

 This project would give a solution to the traffic problems in Chennai.

 ITS in Chennai
 Introduce advanced IT-based monitoring for ticketing and passenger management,
fleet management (among others).

 Plus, there is the intelligent transportation system (ITS), used for fleet management
and scheduling of buses.

 It will definitely help improve the way transport (traffic and commuters) moves and
behaves in the city.

 ITS will enable us to monitor movement of all buses (and) we will know the road
space, areas of congestion, whether motorists have to take a diversion, etc.

 Even traffic police will get data on congestion, or which bus stop has more
passengers (at that particular point of time). 
 For instance, if 1,000 more passengers arrive at the Central station suddenly, the
ITS will give a signal to send an additional 100 buses. 

 It also gives you information about roads – like which routes are more congested
and if an accident has taken place on a certain route what alternatives are available
for commuters.

 If one route is congested, ITS will guide commuters on an alternative route.

 All data will be gathered at a central monitoring place and monitoring and sharing
of information will be done electronically.
Benefits for State transportation Unit

 Improved Profitability

 Increased Operational Efficiency

 Increase in ridership
 Benefits for Passengers

 Passenger Convenience

 Safety and Security

 Better Driving