Urban Transport in India : Initiatives and Challenges

In this paper, an attempt is made to review the urban transport situation, policy initiatives and emerging issues in India on the basis of available reports and documents. Indian Government came out with transport policy in... [ view full abstract ]

In this paper, an attempt is made to review the urban transport situation, policy initiatives and emerging issues in India on the basis of available reports and documents.

Indian Government came out with transport policy in 1966 and in 1980 .

Urban travel in India is predominantly through walking, cycling and public transport, including intermediate public transport. In spite of higher growth of motorised two wheelers and cars in the last two decades (15% and 10% per annum respectively), car ownership remains at 3–13 per cent of the households and two wheelers at 40–50 per cent. Dependence on cycle rickshaws and bicycles is higher in smaller cities, while in some medium-size cities (1-3 million population ), private buses were introduced.

Of India’s urban residents, nearly 100 million people live in urban slums and travel patterns of these people are different from residents in formal housing. While cycling and walking account for 50 to 75 per cent of the commuter trips for those in informal sector, people from formal sector depend on buses, cars and two wheelers. Thus, in spite of higher risk and a hostile infrastructure, low cost modes are used due to lack of other choice.

Public transport is the predominant mode of motorised travel in mega cities with buses carrying 20 to 65 per cent of the total passengers excluding those who walk. The minimum cost of public transport use accounts for 20 to 30 per cent of the family income for nearly half of the city population living in unauthorised settlements/slums
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Some of the recent initiatives such as metro rail in Delhi, Mumbai etc, BRT corridor and odd- even use of own car use in Delhi are the right steps in the right direction. However, accidents still remain an issue to be addressed in the policy.