City air quality set to improve with Metro

Air quality in the city is expected to improve with the launch of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR). According to a study conducted by VIT University, vehicular traffic is expected to reduce by 30 per cent. This will also lead to a significant reduction in noise levels.

The department of civil engineering of VIT university recently conducted a study on the HMR and its impact on the traffic and the sustainability of the city. According to the study, the Metro Rail is a non-polluting and environment-friendly system which could play an important role the development of a better, healthier city and improve the standard of health within the community.

The Metro Rail is expected to take over a significant portion of the traffic load and thus reduce vehicular density on the roads. This will reduce the stress on roads and consequently increase the life of the road network.

Vehicular traffic is one of the main contributors to air pollution. Cars, motorcycles and scooters often emit high levels of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.

The use of the HMR will result in a reduction in the number of private vehicles on the roads, and this will help reduce emissions. Consequently, fossil fuel consumption and air pollution will reduce. The energy consumption of the Metro Rail per passenger per kilometre is onefifth that of other modes of transport, and this will help improve air quality.

A senior environmentalist from the city says, “If traffic reduces after the launch of the Metro, air quality in the city will improve by 10 to 15 percent immediately. There will also be less strain on the roads, which will give them a longer lease of life. If the quality of roads improves, air quality can improve by 30 per cent. The Government should try to ban BS1 and BS2 vehicles in the city, as well as vehicles older.”