Rama leads "BRT tour" in India

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is out of the country for two weeks.

He flew to Singapore last Saturday for a one week vacation and is set to go to India on January 26 to be with other city officials for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study tour sponsored by the Cities Development Initiative for Asia.

Rama said Friday that Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young will be the acting mayor while he is away.

Rama is scheduled to fly back to Cebu on February 2.

The officials to join the BRT tour in India are City Traffic Operations Management Executive Director Atty. Raphael Yap, SRP Manager Engr. Roberto Varquez, City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Engr. Alipio Bacalso, City Engineer Kenneth Enriquez.

Former city councilor Nestor Archival and Engr. Eugene Elizalde are also expected to join but the mayor said they have not yet confirmed.

They will be visiting the cities of Delhi and Ahmedabad, which are both implementing a BRT system.

The Delhi’s BRT is catering to 60 percent of Delhi’s commuting public. Ahmedabad’s BRT transports over 18,000 passengers daily.

Ahmedabad’s BRT system is a recipient of the Sustainable Transport Award given by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy in 2010.

This award is given to cities that are able to “demonstrate innovations in transportation by increasing mobility and improving safety for cyclists and pedestrians, while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.”

The study tour in India shall allow the city to observe and study the areas of infrastructure to support the BRT operations, BRT system management requirements, ownership structure, pre-operational set-up and BRT operations including operator procurement and monitoring as well as BRT financial management, ticketing and funding. City officials plan to accomplish it all from January 26 to February 2.

The CDIA is supporting the city for its BRT plan in the South Road Properties. — (FREEMAN)