Providing people with decent public transportation services is of high importance for cities worldwide and there is much room for improvement in Iran, a senior urban manager says.
During a Sunday meeting with provincial urban managers, Hossein Rajab-Salahi, director general of Urban Rail Transportation Bureau of Iran’s Urban and Rural Municipalities Organization affiliated to the Interior Ministry, said a large part of the country’s public transportation system is dilapidated and ready to be phased out, YJC reported.
“Based on the latest data, there are 320,000 urban cabs currently operating across the country, over half of which will be considered dilapidated by the end of the current Iranian year [March 2020]. In six months, 190,000 taxis will be ready to head for the scrap-yard," he said.
Salahi further said the number of passenger buses delivering services in urban areas has reached 22,000, of which 15,000 buses will exceed 15 years of age and be considered dilapidated within six months.
In view of the prevailing economic headwinds facing Iran due to the imposition of harsh US sanctions against Tehran, the import of new vehicles is a luxury the country cannot afford.
The only choice is to repair and upgrade old four-wheelers, but this will not happen until the government and domestic automakers collaborate.
Shifting focus to expansion of subway network as the alternative means of commutation, which is also eco-friendly, Salahi said a total of 840 kilometers of subway have so far been planned for Iranian metropolises, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Qom and Tabriz.
"Of the total length, 288 kilometers are presently operational, almost half of which is in the capital city of Tehran. In addition, 299 kilometers are under construction and 253 kilometers are undergoing feasibility studies," he said.
"Expanding clean means of transportation will also help curb air pollution and ease traffic in sprawling megacities like Tehran."
Investing in subway expansion projects and purchasing new wagons, along with upgrading signaling and ventilation systems, power supply and rails, will further improve public transportation.
Such projects to alleviate air and environmental pollution are high on the agenda of the Iranian government and municipalities.
