The Need of Transport Policy and Planning
By M B Bhatti

TRANSPORT has a major impact on the community. It plays a central role to development. The quality of life suffers without proper access to jobs, healthcare and education. Growth of the economy stagnates without access to resources and markets. For effective transport system transport plans and policies are very important.

They provide a framework, within which rational, mutually consistent, decisions can be made. They are essential to ensure available, possibly scarce resources are used to good effect.
The transport policy can have specific targets like reducing car use, improving road management efficiency, improving the public transport, improving road safety, encouraging use of cycles, reducing environmental impacts etc.

Transport requires finance. Financial resources are finite. Transport has to compete with important sectors like health, education etc. So careful preparation of transport policies and plans and their effective implementation is important for meeting the targets as well as for avoiding wastage of resources.

To develop a transport policy first of all careful analysis of existing transport facilities is required. The transport flows, trends, and prospects are to be studied. Transport policies are dependent on economic trends and prospects. The land use, environmental and social policies have significant impact on the transport policy.

In devising the transport policy thorough understanding of relevant government policies, the relevant legislation, the interests and aspirations of stakeholders like industry, business, and agriculture is must. A transport policy is effective and successful if it is sensitive to the needs and interests of the key players. At the same time it should guide and convince the people about its benefits. It should be built on opportunities. It should recognize and respect limiting factors. It should be feasible. It should obtain political commitment. Above all it should deliver.

After devising the transport policy, the second step is transport planning. The planning of transport system and services across all modes is a continuing process of developing, reviewing and updating. In planning we start with understanding of the system, trends and possibilities. After this the objectives are defined. The alternatives are considered. The future is forecasted. The assessment of different possibilities is carried out. The strategy is prepared to make the plans a reality. The plans are finalized, implemented, reviewed and revised.

In the present world the focus is on sustainable development; the development which can cater to the needs of present as well as future generations. The implications on environments are of prime consideration as well. The random and unplanned developments are mere wastage of resources and time.
If we look into the present scenario of transport in Pakistan it leaves much to be desired. The people are deprived of basic need of reasonable transport. It is adversely affecting the growth of economy of the country.

In the Urban areas the roads are overcrowded. The occurrence of road accidents is sky rocketing. There is environmental degradation due to traffic congestion and mechanical faults of the vehicles. The facilities for cyclists and pedestrians are either minimal or non-existing. There is wastage of valuable time in urban areas mainly due to lack of transport plans and strategies. The future of next generation depends on the proper planning by the current generation.●

The writer has done Masters in Highway Management & Engineering at the University of Birmingham and is a qualified Highway Engineer in United Kingdom.

© 2006 M B Bhatti