Decongesting our cities

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.