Thane transportation bids

Public transport systems are set to undergo a complete change in the next three years in Thane with international transportation leaders expressing interest to develop and operate a mass transit system using a mix of buses, monorails, tramways and even bicycles. Top multinational firms, including Veolia, Bombardier and Scomi, have teamed up with Indian infrastructure giants such as Patel Engineering and the Tata group to bid for the Thane corporation’s contract to create a intracity transport system. “The plan is to improve the mobility of the people, cut down on waiting time for transport and not add more vehicles.It will be an integrated model wherein the agency selected for the work will have to plan, build and operate the transport system which will run about 15 km and cover the entire city,” municipal commissioner R A Rajeev said. The global tenders floated by the TMC invited quick response from four firms---Patel Engineering, Scomi Rail Bhd, Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Realty and Infrastructure---who expressed interest in investing Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,00 crore for developing a mass transit system in Thane. Plans have been put on paper for a public-private-patnership approach, whereby the TMC expects to take advantage of the private partners’ technical know-how and financial resources to address any future challenges in public transportation systems. The TMC will provide the viability gap funding to support the project. “We are open to all options for a sustainable, cheaper and faster transport system. It could be a tramway, monorail, over-the-road coaches etc. The bidder will be expected to prepare a project report and submit a technically-sound project which will satisfy the needs of the citizens here who are otherwise compelled to buy vehicles for a regular commute into the city,’’ Rajeev said.