Decoding Public Transportation: In conversation with UITP India

We live in a world where our surrounding landscapes are rapidly changing. Cities are changing, new towns bubble up, and so are economic priorities and policies of the society. Mobility emerged as a critical priority in the last century, but now in our times, the need for transportation has reached a climacteric phase, where its ends and meets are put to question.

Without reliable mobility, cities become fragmented, people get struck in their lives, and economies take a beating, while the existing mobility systems themselves bray without sustainability. Hence the call for sustainable mobility solutions, especially in urban context with huge influx of population, that are inclusive to masses, cleaner to environment, and can last long.

To catch up on emerging trends and developments in sustainable urban mobility and find out where the bus transportation position itself in that domain, MOTORINDIA sat down with UITP India Office’s head Mr. Jaspal Singh to get his perspectives on the same. UITP is internationally recognised for its work in advancing the sustainable urban mobility as a critical policy agenda. It is, perhaps, the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and sustainable transport modes, with an agenda of enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of the masses by promoting sustainable public transport. Following are the excerpts from the interaction:

Briefly share your views on sustainable mobility in India.

Rapid urbanisation and economic growth are fueling the growth in Indian cities. The infrastructure is not sufficient to meet the rising demand, resulting in stress on the basic utilities like water, electricity, sewage, and transport. The increasing demand in the cities will lead to catastrophic outcome in next 5-10 years. It is estimated that 60 per cent of India will be living in urban areas by 2050. Our Urban transportation infrastructure needs significant investments and upgradation to meet the travel needs of the increasing urban population.