Answer

Introduction

Urban mobility in India faces critical challenges as cities struggle with overcrowded roads and rising private vehicle ownership. Despite increasing investments in public transport, the system often prioritizes vehicles over people, leading to congestion, pollution, and inequity across urban areas.

Urban Mobility: Moving People, Not Vehicles

• Inefficient Land Use by Private Vehicles: Private cars occupy over 75% of road space in cities like Delhi while serving fewer than 20% of daily trips, displacing pedestrians and public spaces.
  Eg. In Delhi, a single car uses 23 sq.m of road space, an area that could accommodate multiple pedestrians or street vendors.
• Low Ownership, High Privilege: Less than 10% of Indian households own private cars, yet urban planning and subsidies disproportionately favor vehicles.
  Eg. A municipal audit in Mumbai (2023) found nearly 30% of footpaths blocked by parked vehicles or car infrastructure.
• Underutilised Public Transport: Metro and bus networks remain underused due to fragmented planning and poor last-mile connectivity.
  Eg. Bengaluru Metro serves under 10 lakh daily passengers, far below its operational capacity, mainly due to lack of feeder services.
• Shared Mobility as a People-Mover: Tech-enabled platforms like Ola and Uber convert idle vehicles into shared assets but face regulatory and infrastructure challenges.
  Eg. Maharashtra’s 2024 policy on bike and carpooling aims to promote shared mobility across cities.

Key Challenges in Achieving Sustainable Urban Mobility

• Rising Vehicle Ownership: India’s vehicle count is increasing faster than infrastructure development, causing gridlocks and delays.
  Eg. Over 20 million vehicles were added in India in 2023, overwhelming existing road networks.
• Parking Crisis: Lack of regulated parking leads to illegal parking and traffic blockages, reducing usable road space.
  Eg. A 2023 study found over 65% of Bengaluru’s commercial districts lacked priced parking, causing frequent double parking.
• Poor Urban Planning: Narrow roads, encroachments, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure contribute to congestion and unsafe streets.
• Inefficient Traffic Management: Manual traffic policing and poor signal coordination increase congestion and commute times.
  Eg. According to the World Bank, Indian cities lose $22 billion annually due to traffic congestion.
• Pollution and Health Impacts: Vehicle emissions significantly degrade air quality, causing health problems and productivity losses.
  Eg. Delhi is ranked among the world’s most polluted capitals, largely due to vehicular pollution.

Policy Reforms and Planning Strategies

• City-Specific Mandates: Enforce use of cleaner fuels and electric vehicles, especially in pollution-prone areas.
  Eg. The National Capital Region (NCR) mandates CNG use for public transport during high pollution periods.
• Reclaim Public Space: Introduce car-free zones and pedestrian-friendly initiatives to promote walking and cycling.
  Eg. Bengaluru’s Church Street pedestrianisation increased foot traffic and reduced vehicle congestion.
• Congestion Pricing: Implement road pricing in dense zones to discourage unnecessary car trips and fund sustainable transport.
  Eg. New York has introduced congestion pricing to cut peak-hour traffic volumes significantly.
• Unified Transport Authorities: Coordinate metro, bus, and para-transit services for integrated and seamless urban mobility.
  Eg. Delhi’s “One City, One Commute” initiative seeks to unify public transport operations city-wide.
• Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure: Expand safe footpaths and build dedicated cycling lanes to encourage non-motorized transport.
  Eg. Pune is planning to develop over  300KM of dedicated cycle tracks under its sustainable urban mobility plan.
• Innovative Multimodal Solutions: Integrated transport systems that combine water transport, e-autos, and metros prioritize people and reduce road congestion.
  Eg. The Kochi Water Metro connects 10 islands and integrates ferry and e-auto services, easing urban traffic pressure.

Conclusion

India’s urban mobility future depends on prioritizing the efficient movement of people over vehicles. Addressing rising private vehicle ownership through integrated policies, pedestrian-centric planning, and innovative shared transport can reduce congestion and pollution, creating sustainable, inclusive cities.

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