CONTENTS
1 ROLE OF TRANSPORTATION IN URBAN PLANNING – EVOLUTION, INNOVATION AND CHANGES 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Urban Transport Trends in India 2
1.3 Bus Rapid Transit Systems 3
1.3.1 Conceptualisation of the study 6
1.4 Research Questions and Objectives 9
1.5 Methodology 9
1.6 Analytical Framework10
1.7 Chapter Scheme 13
2 ACTOR–NETWORK THEORY 17
2.1 Introduction17
2.2 Actor–Network Theory. 17
2.2.1 Actor–Network Theory: Vocabulary and Definitions.18
2.2.2 Three Main Concepts of ANT 20
2.3 Defining Innovations 29
2.4 Discussion30
3 COMPETITORS AS COLLABORATORS: MOBILISING ALLIANCES TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. 37
3.1 Introduction 37
3.2 Evolution of Ahmedabad’s Transit System – Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Services 38
3.3 Current Effort to Develop Rapid Transit Systems: Translation Process 43
3.3.1 Converting Competitors into Collaborators: Making BRTS an Acceptable Idea 44
3.3.2 Resistance and its Management during Project Development.61
3.3.3 Dissidence: Betrayals and Controversies 64
3.3.4 (Re) Translation 69
3.4 Discussion and Summary. 71
4 ARTIFACTS, PROGRAM OF ACTION, SCRIPTS AND INSCRIPTIONS 73
4.1 Introduction 73
4.2 Pre-(BRT) Project Context 75
4.3 The Design: Program of Action, Scripts and Inscription 77
4.4 Designing the BRT Street 79
4.4.1 Exclusive Lanes 79
4.5 Designing BRT Stations 85
4.5.1 Spacing 89
4.5.2 Location.89
4.5.3 Impact of Floor Height on Bus Station Infrastructure .90
4.5.4 Access to High Plinth Bus Stations 93
4.5.5 Wheelchair Access 93
4.5.6 Closed Bus Stations 94
4.6 Designing Bus Docking and Boarding/Alighting Controls 94
4.6.1 Realized Benefits of RFID: 98
4.7 BRTS Operating System 98
4.8 Discussion and Summary 99
5 DECIDING JANMARG VEHICLE: DISTRIBUTION OF AGENCY 103
5.1 Introduction 103
5.2 Vehicle Technology 104
5.2.1 Capacity and External Dimensions104
5.2.2 Bus Floor Height 105
5.2.3 Vehicle Engine Configuration and Fuel Choice 108
5.2.4 Engine Location 113
5.2.5 Workshop Conclusions 117
5.3 Design and Procurement of Buses 117
5.3.1 The Process: Design, Procurement of Buses and Bus Operator117
5.3.2 Selection of the Bus and the Bus Operator: First Effort 118
5.3.3 The Choice of BRT Bus and the Bus Operator: Second Effort 120
5.4 Discussion and Summary 124
6 CONCLUSION 131
6.1 Summary . 131
6.2 Translation . 133
6.2.1 Designing Artifacts to Shape Human Behaviour 134
6.2.2 Distribution of Agency.136
6.3 Janmarg, Ahmedabad and Transmilenio, Bogota: A Discussion137
6.4 Challenges in Using ANT as an Analytical Framework139
6.5 Contribution 139
Appendix i
Appendix 1: Bus Rapid Transit System iii
Appendix 2: BRTS Project Status Sanctioned under JnNURM ix
Appendix 3: BRTS Project Status Sanctioned under JnNURM xi
Appendix 4: Applicability of Emission Norms in India xii
Appendix 5: Bus Specifications xiii
Appendix 6: Cases of Conflict of Alignment on BRTS Route xv