A world-class urban transport infrastructure, including an efficient public transport system, road network, and optimising the existing infrastructure in key Indian cities would require an investment of Rs 4,35,800 crore in the next 20 years.
A study undertaken by Wilber Smith Associates and the ministry of urban development also makes a strong case for developing and encouraging non-motorised transport systems. It has pitched for a dedicated transport fund to finance the needs of urban transport. The government had been toying with the idea of developing an urban transport fund and was considering a cess on urban cars or charging users of urban transport system.
The study, which surveyed Indian cities with over 5-lakh population, has been done to asses the existing bottlenecks and suggest policy and other interventions for modernisation of cities crumbling under the weight of cramped roads, inefficient public transport system and lack of investments.
An assessment of the existing urban transport systems has shown that in almost all cities, traffic is mismanaged and road networks are being put to sub-optimal use. ?To optimise the present infrastructure, traffic system management has to be given immediate priority as this yields very high benefits with relatively low costs and improves safety. Wherever possible, efforts on transport demand management have to be pursued to ensure that optimal use of infrastructure is made,? the study points out. It says one of the solutions for traffic problems in urban areas is the mass transport system. ?There are a number of pointers in the data and analysis that we have carried out that indicate that mass transport will be the only way forward. Be it in the form of buses, BRT?s, monorails, LRT or metro systems,? it says. The study also makes a case for institutionalising the urban transport infrastructure by setting up a transportation authority. The Centre has been pushing states to come up with transport authorities, which would monitor and implement transports projects and has a legal standing. However, only three states have installed such an authority even though a law at the national level was passed in 2005.
As a result, the share of personalised modes, especially of the two-wheelers, have gone up leaps and bounds, clocking 12% per annum growth in the past two decades, while public transport has generally dwindled. ?Operating bus services in congested streets have become increasingly difficult? Fleet sizes in nearly all public undertakings have declined rather than grow to meet the demand,? the study observes.