FUTURE OF URBAN MOBILITY IN INDIA AND WAY FORWARD

Indian cities are characterized by increasing levels of congestion, pollution, road accidents and inequality in access to mobility.

The need for better urban mobility in order to build inclusive, safer and more sustainable cities cannot be underestimated.

Status of Urban Transport in India

Major Modes of Public Urban Transport:

• Buses are the prime mover for both inter-city and intra-city travels in most urban centres. However, in recent times there has been a loss in ridership. Other modes include metro rail, trams, and local trains.

• Intermediate public transport system (IPT): All Indian cities feature large numbers of auto rickshaws, taxis, cycle rickshaws and forms of informal car pooling

• The range of public transport services vary considerably across cities. For example: Only Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have extensive suburban rail services whereas Delhi has limited suburban rail services. Currently, 15 Indian cities have operational metro rail with Delhi having the largest metro rail system.

Problems faced by Urban Transport in India:

1. Unprecedented Transport Growth: According to Niti Aayog, the number of registered motor vehicles has increased from 5.4 million in 1981 to 295 million in 2019. This rapid growth in demand in the absence of widespread public transport system has caused a rapid increase of private car ownership in India.

2. Inadequate Public Transport: According to government data, there are about 19 lakh buses in the country and only 2.8 lakh of them are run either by state transport undertaking or under stage carriage permits. China has about six buses for 1,000 people while India has only four buses per 10,000 people.