(a) whether the Government proposes to seek Japanese assistance in areas like urban monorail projects, intelligent transport networks and high speed rail-based Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS);
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has held discussions with Japan in this regard;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of Japan thereto; and
(e) the time by which the aforesaid proposals are likely to be finalised?
THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI M. VENKAIAH NAIDU)
(a)&(b): Government has not sought Japanese assistance for urban Monorail projects and Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS).
However, in the area of Intelligent Transport System (ITS), under the Technical cooperation support (grant based), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has taken up the following works:-
(i) ITS Master Plan for Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mysore cities.
(ii) A Technical Advisor on Integrated Development of Smart and Green Urban Transport Infrastructure work at Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) for one year from September, 2012 to September, 2013.
(iii) JICA undertook a study on the Introduction of ITS in 9 cities – New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Indore, Mumbai and Pune.
(c)&(d): The issuesare discussed in the Indo-Japan Working Group on Urban Development meetings which are held regularly. The last meeting of the Working Group was held from 14.10.2013 to 18.10.2013 in Tokyo, Japan.
(e): At present, there are no fresh proposals to be finalized.