Mir Projects and Consultants, the project management and consultancy arm of the diversified Mir Group, has been given the task of developing a Master Plan for traffic management at Andaman and Nicobar islands. The prestigious consultancy was awarded to the company through a global bid issued by the Government of India in Andaman and Nicobar islands, which had numerous participants, said Mr Pradip Unni, GM — Marketing and Business Development, Mir Projects and Consultants. The Master Plan is meant to provide long lasting solutions to intra-island, inter-island and island-to-mainland transport requirements by providing better transport linkages. The highlight of the project lies in providing multi-mode transport facilities while at the same time ensuring that the pristine ecology and environment of the islands are least impacted, Mr Unni pointed out.

The Traffic Master Plan will set the course for tomorrow's traffic/transport requirements across the islands. Growth in population, changes in economic activity, lifestyle and other demographic and social developments have already resulted in a surge in the number of vehicles and the frequency of their trips. In a forecast, the Ministry of Tourism has stated that tourist arrivals to the islands is poised to grow by more than 100 per cent in the next 20 years.

Transhipment port

The need for foresight and planning also stems from the Ministry of Shipping's plans to construct a major transhipment port at the southern most island of the Great Nicobar, to take advantage of the islands strategic location on the major East-West shipping corridor. Hence, the need of the hour is to develop transport facilities and reduce traffic congestion in a sustainable manner without disturbing the island's unique ecological footprint and carrying capacity, the group said.

The consultancy project is proposed to be completed within 10 months. It calls for a master plan that will define the air, sea and road traffic infrastructure and provide cost effective travel in the region until 2030. The report would make use of a combination of urban planning, multi-modal traffic engineering, ecology and economics.

The Master Plan would be developed in association with Pointec of Spain. Pointec is a renowned leader in traffic and transport consulting, having played a vital role in the Master Plan for public urban transportation in Oviedo, Spain.

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