Designs for Naya Raipur, a city built from scratch. Photo via cghb.gov.in.

EMBARQ signed an agreement on April 23 with the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) to develop a bus rapid transit system.

Naya Raipur is a planned city being built to serve as the new capital of Chhattisgarh. It is located 17 kilometers southeast from the existing capital, Raipur. EMBARQ is preparing a BRT operations plan and also developing terms of reference for a transit-oriented development (TOD) strategy.

"This project presents EMBARQ with a unique opportunity to develop a BRT system and incorporate it into the master plans of a city that has not yet been built," said Madhav Pai, technical director of the Centre for Sustainable Transport in India (CST-India.). "It is also an opportunity to showcase this project as an example of progressive urban planning".

The terms of reference will be submitted to NRDA for review by May 30.