Steps Taken To Improve Public Transport In Cities

Steps Taken To Improve Public Transport In Cities

As per the latest available information received from Vahan Database, the total number of registered motor vehicles as on 31st March, 2016 were 19,16,73,947. The Compound Annual Growth Rate of total Registered Motor Vehicles in India for the last 5 years i.e. from 2011 to 2016 was 94.40%. The increase in number of vehicles expected to be on roads during the next five years depends on the new policy of State Government and Government of India.

Urban Transport is intertwined with Urban Development, which is State Subject. However, Ministry of Urban Development has taken following initiatives to improve the traffic problem in cities/metros:

(i) National Urban Transport Policy-2006.

(ii) Financial assistance upto 20% for Metro Rail Projects initiated by State Govt.

(iii) More than 22,500 buses sanctioned to 157 cities/cluster of cities under erstwhile JnNURM Scheme.

(iv) 80% financial assistance is being provided by Ministry for preparation of Comprehensive Mobility Plans(CMPs) and other Urban Transport related studies by cities, 50% cost of DPR preparation for Mass Rapid Transport System is also provided under UT planning and Capacity Building Scheme.

(v) Ministry has also prepared guidance documents for setting up of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), Urban Transport Fund (UTF), Bus Operations, Traffic Management Information and Control Centre (TMICC), Public Bike Sharing (PBS) etc. for help of the State Govt/City authorities.

(vi) More than 1000 city officials have been trained from all over India on Urban Transport issues.

(vii) Ministry has issued several advisories such congestion charging, innovative financing, UMTA for million plus cities etc. for lthe half of cities.

(viii) Ministry has also provided financial assistance for Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for 12 cities.

(ix) Urban Transport component such as BRT, Buses, Footpaths, Cycles etc have been made important component of AMRUT scheme of the Ministry.

In addition, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has introduced a scheme for providing Central assistance to the States/UTs/State Road Transport Undertakings for strengthening public transport system. The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance for use of latest information technology such as GPS/GSM based vehicle tracking system, computerized reservation system, automatic fare collection system, electronic ticket vending machines, passenger information system etc. for inter-city and rural area operations and also for working out mobility plan. The increased use of public transport will reduce the use of private vehicles which will reduce congestion on road and decrease traffic problems.

This information was given by Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.