"The Skybus has many advantages over Metro Rail. The need for land acquisition would be less and the project can be built at comparatively low cost. Early completion is assured and cargo can also be transported," said Skybus inventor B Rajaram, a former managing director of Konkan Railway.
At a press conference here on Friday, Rajaram said the Skybus track could be laid at a cost of Rs 55 crore per km. In comparison, the Metro Rail track would cost Rs 250 crore per km for an underground track and Rs 125 crore for an elevated track.
Rajaram said the Skybus corridor would be ready in 24 months while Metro Rail would need nothing less than five years. He said Skybus can also carry cargo, a facility not possible with Metro Rail. An important feature of the Skybus is that it can run on existing roads with a speed of 100 kmph and provide viable public transport at 50 paise per km. Rajaram said travel up to 500 km would cost Rs 250 per month, a cost that would be unviable for Metro Rail.
Rajaram said a detailed feasibility study for the Skybus is being taken up on the Uppal-Mehdipatnam corridor. This will be ready in four months. The Centre will take a decision on whether the Skybus is ideal for Hyderabad once the technical feasibility is done.
Konkan Railway is leading the study for a Malaysian consortium led by Doxport. The consortium and Konkan Railway signed an agreement on Friday to that effect. To a question, Rajaram admitted there had been a mishap during the trials of the Skybus but several changes were made to the project subsequently. The Skybus will also have an anti-collision device to avoid accidents, Rajaram explained.
President Abdul Kalam and many scientists including the railway safety commissioner have approved the Skybus as a technically viable and safe public mode of transport, Rajaram said.
Source : The Times of India
