The Hindu Business Line : Call to hasten urban transport reforms

Problem points
Rising number of vehicles, road expansion limitations, declining reliance on public transport and high levels of air pollution.

Kolkata , May 7

The current problems plaguing urban transport systems in the country, such as rising number of vehicles, road expansion limitations, declining reliance on public transport and high level of air pollution, could become more alarming as projections indicate continued growth in urban population.

Commenting on "Urban Transport" in the India Infrastructure Report 2006, Mr O.P. Agarwal, Ministry of Urban Development, says the share of the urban population, which was only 28 per cent of total population in 2001, is expected to reach 48 per cent by 2051.

"While there may be differences in the projections by various experts, urban population is likely to more than double in the next 30 years, and the travel demand problems will get compounded correspondingly."

Travel demand growth

Rites, he points out, in a study has estimated that although population in A class cities is expected to grow 2.5 times during 1991-2021, the corresponding intra-city travel demand would grow by 3.5 times during this period.

According to him, the growth in terms of total number of trips (travel demand) and for different categories of cities has profound implications on urban transport planning in India.

It is argued that travel demand has grown faster than population because it is a function of both the rising number of trips undertaken by the incremental population as well as increased trip lengths necessitated by expanded city size.

Management confusion

Conceding that of late there has been increased recognition of the importance of public transport as a means to mitigate congestion and air pollution in urban areas, Mr Agarwal says unlike inter-city transport, intra-city transport requires several functions to be performed in a well-coordinated manner.

"Unfortunately, these are performed by multiple agencies, some working under the Central government and others under the State government with responsibilities impacting urban transport."

The distribution of responsibility, he feels, clearly brings out the confusion that prevails in the management of urban transport in India.

While the state transport departments are responsible for vehicle licensing, registration, inspection and road tax, the legislative framework is provided by a national enactment (MV Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989).

And in larger cities, several Central Government agencies also get involved in road construction and management, such as cantonment roads, Indian Railways, Border Roads Organisation, NHAI, etc.

Sustainable solutions

He says urgent reforms are inevitable for sustainable solutions to India's challenge of urban transport services. The Government has taken half a step by preparing a draft National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP).

The next half-step would be taken when regulatory reforms are put in place to provide comprehensive urban public transport services at an affordable price to all.

The NUTP, it is pointed out, has already recommended that the state governments should set up Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities for each large city to ensure coordinated planning and implementation of sound city transport initiatives.

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