Source: The post India needs sustainable transport for urban futurey has been created, based on the article “Urbanisation and the challenge of ideal transit solutions” published in “The Hindu” on 13 June 2025. India needs sustainable transport for urban future.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- infrastructure
Context: India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 relies heavily on urban transformation. With a projected shift of over 60% of the population to urban areas by the 2060s, efficient public transport systems have become essential. This article examines India’s current efforts and challenges in building a sustainable urban mobility framework.
For detailed information on Urban Mobility in India- Challenges and Way Forward read this article here
Urban Expansion and Mobility Pressure
- Rising Urban Population and Mobility Needs: India’s urban population is expected to grow rapidly, necessitating large-scale worker mobility. This shift puts pressure on planners to create seamless transport links from homes to workplaces.
- Slow Progress of Smart Cities: Unlike China, India’s new smart cities are not progressing fast. Instead, tier 1 cities are expanding rapidly, increasing the stress on existing transport systems.
- Challenges in Metros and Existing Cities: Existing metros are witnessing continuous expansion, making it harder to meet urban mobility needs, especially for daily commuters.
Current Policy Measures and Budget Priorities
- Launch of PM e-Bus and e-Drive Initiatives: The PM e-Bus Sewa and e-Drive schemes aim to add 14,000 e-buses and over 1 lakh other electric vehicles. However, with only 35,000 buses currently operating against a requirement of 2 lakh, the gap remains large.
- Focus on Metro Infrastructure Expansion: The government has increased funding for metro development in tier 1 cities, though access to public transport remains low at 37% compared to over 50% in Brazil and China.
- Funding and Operational Issues: Metro systems rely heavily on central funding. Most have not recovered costs due to lower-than-expected ridership and high fare sensitivity among users.
Limitations of the Present Approach
- Economic Unsustainability of Metro Systems: Cost recovery is challenging unless routes serve dense corridors. Fare increases reduce ridership, making these systems less viable.
- Last-Mile Connectivity Problems: High costs of travel from metro stations to homes or offices discourage usage, weakening the efficiency of the metro network.
- Limited Subsidy Capacity: Unlike wealthier countries, India cannot afford high subsidies for public transport, further constraining its affordability and reach.
Alternative Solutions and Financial Viability
- Scope for Road-Based Transit Modes: Road-based options like e-buses, hydrogen, CNG, and biofuel vehicles are being promoted. However, budget focus on costly e-buses over cheaper modes limits flexibility.
- Undervalued Potential of Trams and Trolleybuses: Trams and trolleybuses are overlooked, despite trams showing a 45% profit over 70 years, far better than e-buses which incur 82% losses.
- Need for Lifecycle Cost Analysis: Future policies must include lifecycle profit-and-loss estimates to choose the most viable and sustainable public transit models.
Path Ahead for Sustainable Urban Mobility
- Rethinking Investment Priorities: India must assess whether current investments serve long-term goals or rely on ongoing subsidies.
- Kochi’s Tram Plan as a Model: Kochi’s proposed tram system could be a game-changer, showing the value of reviving older, more sustainable systems.
- Balancing Innovation and Financial Sustainability: A smart transport future must integrate modern technology with financially viable models like trams to ensure inclusive and long-term success.
Question for practice:
Discuss how India can ensure sustainable and financially viable urban mobility in its journey toward Viksit Bharat.
