Decongesting our cities
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Decongesting our cities

Article:

  1. P. Agarwal, CEO, World Resources Institute India, suggests adoption of app-based public transport survives.

Important Analysis:

2.  Objective:

  • Aimed at improving public transport systems.

3. Consequences of using private transport:

  • Severe traffic congestion
  • Air pollution
  • Impact on energy security of the nation.
  • Impact on economic efficiency of cities

4. Advantages of using public transport:

  • Uses less road space
  • Consumes less fuel
  • Emit fewer pollutants on a per passenger basis.

5. Steps taken by government to enhance the use of public transport.

  • India has invested large amounts in high quality metro systems in cities such Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Jaipur and Lucknow.
  • Other cities are also planning to build new metros.
  • Bus systems have also been augmented at a high cost.

6. Solutions:

  • Public transport need to provide more convenience facilities to the people.
  • The emerging slew of shared mobility options and app-based ride providers become important here.
  • Sustainable mode of transport.
  • App-based services wean people away from the public transport, so should not be allowed.
  • Development in technology
  • Modify regulations to accommodate app-based services.
  • Safeguard investment in public transport

7. Hurdles:

  • Services like the app-based mini-buses do not find favour with regulators.
  • They are neither “stage carriages” nor “contract carriages” under the Motor Vehicles Act.
  • Stage carriages are those that ply along fixed routes and stop at predetermined stations to pick up and drop passengers.
  • Contract carriages are vehicles that serve a single customer or a group of customers, to be picked and dropped between two designated places.
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