The team was selected by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to develop a Smart City Framework Plan and electrification of two- and three-wheeled transport for Visakhapatnam and its surrounding 5,500 km2 region. The team developed benchmarks, frameworks, processes, and implementation for the state of Andhra Pradesh to build on Visakhapatnam’s thriving logistics, software, education, tourism, and health industries and create a framework for achieving ambitious economic development and quality of life goals. The team expanded on previous projects in Visakhapatnam to address social, economic, mobility, energy, transport, and water concerns and aspirations at the regional scale as well as through ICT-enabled sector-specific urban infrastructure projects. The Smart City Plan extends and improves trunk infrastructures and public transit networks, upgrades water supply and sewage treatment systems, mitigates climate change-related risks, and develops a disaster preparedness plan for the city.

This project studied the feasibility of upgrading Visakhapatnam’s existing Pendurthi, Mudasarlova and Simhachalam bus transit lines and includes the retrofitting of bus shelters, signalization of intersections and signal prioritization, improved operational management of the dedicated lanes, and introduction of real-time “Next Bus” tracking systems that can be accessed via a smart phone application and shown on public information displays on the bus shelters. The new shelters are expected to include potential features such as interior lighting powered by solar cells, precision bus docking and all-doors boarding.

LOCATION
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

CLIENTS
Government of Andhra Pradesh
U.S. Trade & Development Agency

ROLE
Project management and technical advisement as part of AECOM team

Overview

This project studied the feasibility of upgrading Visakhapatnam’s existing Pendurthi, Mudasarlova and Simhachalam bus transit lines and includes the retrofitting of bus shelters, signalization of intersections and signal prioritization, improved operational management of the dedicated lanes, and introduction of real-time “Next Bus” tracking systems that can be accessed via a smart phone application and shown on public information displays on the bus shelters. The new shelters are expected to include potential features such as interior lighting powered by solar cells, precision bus docking and all-doors boarding.

Interventions

The proposed technological, spatial, and institutional improvements will all greatly improve bus operations and improve convenience and access to information for bus passengers. These improvements can phased for implementation based on “best value” of each investment. We use qualitative criteria as the most effect method for assessing the many different factors involved in prioritization, including safety, bus operations, passenger convenience and travel time, and perception of improvements. In the table below, a multifaceted program is advanced independent of cost, indicating best value improvements by phasing with a brief description of the elements being installed.