Tackling congestion for growing population

Many a time we wonder: "Are our cities truly prepared?" This question weighs heavily Lon us as our population grows and our resources dwindle, leaving our cities ill-prepared for what lies ahead.

We discuss the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency, and resource management to improve urban living, and yet we overlook a crucial challenge that has persisted throughout history. Since ancient times, transportation has served as the lifeblood of our cities. With the population constantly increasing, so does our reliance on accessible transportation. In fact, growth in population and the surge in vehicle numbers go hand in hand, leading to more traffic congestion and longer hours spent on roads.

According to recent reports from the United Nations, our global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, with a significant majority about 68.4 per cent living in urban areas. In the case of India, the population, currently at 1.4 billion, is expected to surpass 1.5 billion by 2030. By 2047, nearly 51 per cent of the population would live in cities. These numbers are staggering and give us pause to consider the implications for our everyday lives.

Since 1950, India has seen its population increase by a billion. At the same time, the number of registered motor vehicles has also skyrocketed from a mere 300,000 in 1951 to over 326 million in 2020, as noted in the Road Transport Year Book 2019-20. This explosion in vehicle ownership has compounded the ageold problem of traffic congestion, turning our daily journeys into tests of patience and endurance.