Indian cities are overwhelmed by private vehicles that have led to chronic traffic congestion, inefficient mobility, and unsustainable urban transport systems.

Issues

• Sharper rise in private vehicle ownership: In Delhi, private cars, often carrying just one person, consume over 75% of road space but contribute to less than 20% of total daily trips.
  • Cars have a disproportionate share of urban resources. Despite cars being owned by less than 10% of the Indian Households, they benefit disproportionately from public subsidies and urban land.
  • A single parcel of land occupies 23 square metres of space- area that could otherwise support a tree, bench or street vendor.
  • In Mumbai, a municipal audit found that nearly 30% of footpaths in key areas were blocked by either parked vehicles or spillovers from car centric infrastructure.
  • India adds over 20 million vehicles annually, far outpacing road infrastructure.
• Inadequate Public Transport:  Metro networks and buses remain underutilized due to last-mile connectivity gaps and fragmented panning
• Shared Mobility enabled by tech: Platform  based ride hailing aggregators like Uber, Ola, Rapido and Quick RIde have transformed idle vehicles into a shared asset.
  • However, their growth has been hindered by inadequate policy support, lack of infrastructure such as designated pick up zones and andsence of behavioural nudges to accelerate adoption.
• Poor Urban Planning: Mixed land use, encroachments, and lack of pedestrian pathways worsen congestion.
• Inefficient Traffic Management: Manual policing, poor signal synchronization, and indiscipline lead to bottlenecks.
  • The World Bank estimates that Indian cities lose$22 billion annually to congestion.
  • Hidden cost of Pollution is health impacts and reduced urban productivity.
• Parking Chaos: Heavily subsidised Parking, Illegal parking clogs streets, reducing effective road space.
  • Example: In Bengaluru, a 2023 study found that over 65%  of commercial districts had no priced parking resulting in double parking and frequent traffic blockages.

Best Innovative Initiatives

• Kochi Water Metro (Kerala): First-of-its-kind integrated water transport system in India, connecting 10 islands via 78 km of routes. It integrates ferry services with an e- auto  feeder, all accessible through a unified mobility card.
  • The Electric-hybrid boats reduce emissions, aligning with sustainable urban mobility.
  • Seamless connectivity with Kochi Metro and buses, easing last-mile access.
  • This has led to reduced road congestion, provides affordable transit for island communities, and sets a blueprint for coastal cities.
• Surat Zonal Parking System (Gujarat): it has helped reclaim curb spaces allowing for the creation of pedestrian plazas.

Way Forward

• City-Specific Mandates: Example: Enforce use of CNG and electric vehicles, especially in pollution-sensitive regions like the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Targeted Subsidies: Offer incentives for electric buses, e-rickshaws, and shared EV fleets to reduce emissions at scale.
• Design Cities for Pedestrians and Cyclists: Prioritize pedestrian-centric planning with wider, shaded footpaths, barrier-free access, and safe crossings.
  • Develop dedicated cycling infrastructure to encourage non-motorized transport.
• Reclaim Public Space from Private Cars: Implement weekend car-free zones that convert roads into community spaces for walking, cycling, and street activities.
  • Redesign parking policies to reduce street parking and promote multi-level or underground alternatives.
• Demand-Based Road Pricing: Introduce congestion pricing in high-traffic zones to discourage unnecessary car trips. The revenue generated can be used to fund footpath upgrades, cycling lanes, and shared electric shuttles.
• Low Emission Zones (LEZs): Create LEZs around schools, hospitals, and senior care centres, restricting polluting vehicles to protect vulnerable populations.
• Vehicle Sharing Policies: There is a need to expand on initiatives like Maharashtra’s approved car and bike pooling policies, making sharing mainstream through app integration, incentives, and employer partnerships.
• Taxi Zones: Designate specialized pick-up and drop-off zones for taxis and ride-hailing services to reduce roadside chaos.
  • Example: India Gate traffic management zone, Delhi.
• Unified Transport Authorities: There is a need to set up Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) in all major cities to coordinate planning across metro, bus, autos, and cycling systems.
  • Example: Delhi’s “One City, One Commute” initiative aims at integration and seamless mobility.

Conclusion

Breaking urban transport gridlock requires political will, public participation, and private-sector innovation.

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