Transport System

Rapido plans 500-city expansion, sees strong mobility growth: Co-founder

Ride-hailing app Rapido is in the midst of a 500-city expansion this year in India, a market where "vastness and depth" of mobility opportunity offers a high-growth upside, according to co-founder Pavan Guntupalli. On whether the company is eyeing an IPO in the near term, Guntupalli told PTI that Rapido is clocking healthy growth, is well capitalised and "will take a call depending on situation". The focus, for now, is on growth, he asserts. The commute app, which offers about 33 lakh rides every single day on its auto, bike taxi, and cab services expects to grow "sustainably". "We are seeing strong growth, we have already turned market leaders in the two-wheeler industry, and the three-wheeler industry. And we are also glad that in a couple of cities we operate in, we are also market leaders in the four wheeler-industry. We are currently doing the five lakh rides in cabs and expect strong growth, and this is on the back of our SaaS (software as a service) innovation," he said ...

DMRC, NCRTC get record ridership, give driving training to women in 2024

The year 2024 saw both the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation make remarkable strides in advancing urban transportation infrastructure. While the DMRC achieved key breakthroughs, including the first twin tunnels under Phase-IV construction and the completion of an 865-metre underground tunnel between Chhatarpur and Chhatarpur Mandir Station, the NCRTC opened two major sections, signed crucial agreements, and was lauded by the German Ambassador who took a ride on its Namo Bharat train. Despite these advancements, the year was also marked by a tragic incident for the DMRC. On February 8, a portion of the Gokulpuri Metro Station on the Pink Line, located in northeast Delhi, collapsed, resulting in the death of a 53-year-old man and injuries to four others. In response, the DMRC carried out a thorough inspection and took corrective measures that included the removal of concrete structures and installation of stainless-steel railings at fi

Maharashtra sets March 31 deadline to fix high security number plates

More than two crore vehicles registered in Maharashtra before April 2019 will have to be fitted with High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in the next four months to avoid imposition of penalty on their owners. The Maharashtra Transport Commissioner's Office has set March 31, 2025 deadline for installation of the HSRPs to the vehicles and appointed three agencies, after a long-drawn-out tendering process, to carry out the task. The authorities issued the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the new registration plates on Wednesday, a day before the new Maharashtra government led by Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in. To curb vehicle thefts and bring uniformity in vehicle's identity marks, the fitment of these number plates was made mandatory for the vehicles registered in Maharashtra before April 2019, and the onus of installing those was on the manufacturers. Made of a rare aluminum alloy, HSRP contains a retro-reflective film with a verification inscription 'India', a ...

India to see one of the largest infra programmes of 21st century: KPMG

India is likely to see the implementation of one of the largest infrastructure programmes in the 21st century amongst large economies and creating fiscal sources of capital would be key to this initiative, according to a KPMG report. The report titled 'KPMG 2024 Infrastructure and Transport CEO Outlook' further said a survey of 120 sector leaders from across the world found that CEOs in the infrastructure and transportation sector anticipate business growth over the next three years, in terms of earnings and headcount. It revealed that globally 57 per cent of sector CEOs say stakeholder expectations pertaining to ESG are changing faster than they can adapt their strategy. More than half of CEOs believe that a global failure on climate-change adaptation will have a real short-to-medium term impact on their growth, it added. With confidence and trust in governments declining around the world, the report said 62 per cent of respondents believe the public is looking to businesses to fi

Ola Electric plans 10,000 outlets by 2025, targeting smaller cities

Ola Electric plans to open 10,000 sales and service outlets by 2025 - a move aimed at boosting its presence in smaller cities across India

Delhi govt to soon notify new rates, norms for buses at ISBTs: Raj Niwas

The Delhi government will soon notify new rates and norms for buses at interstate terminals, Raj Niwas officials said on Sunday. Lt Governor VK Saxena inspected the Maharana Pratap ISBT at Kashmere Gate on August 31 and subsequently held a high-level meeting that was attended by Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot. The transport department is set to notify the new rates and norms for to-and-fro interstate buses utilising the iconic terminals. Delhi has three operational interstate bus terminals (ISBTs) at Kashmere Gate, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan. "Emphasising that efficiency and equality are two most important factors to achieve optimum utilisation of facilities, the lieutenant governor suggested equal parking rates for government and private buses and also reducing parking time equally to achieve a higher turnaround," a Raj Niwas official said. Saxena also directed that only buses with Fastag be allowed to enter the terminals to ensure tracking. Once notified, the new

Concor to resume coastal cargo transport, enhance last-mile connectivity

Concor had initially launched coastal shipping services in January 2019 but the services were halted in 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak

Pvt operators seek Bengal govt nod to run state-owned buses via PPP model

A body of private bus operators in West Bengal has urged the state transport department to allow its members whose 15-year-old vehicles need to be scrapped by August to opt for a public-private-partnership model in which they can run state-owned buses against a monthly payment. The association sent a letter to Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty on Tuesday to allow such operators to opt for the PPP model, known as Bus Franchise Operators (BFOs), on a bigger scale and save them from financial losses, Joint Council of Bus Syndicate General Secretary Tapan Banerjee told PTI. In compliance with a Calcutta High Court order, 15-year-old buses and other commercial vehicles are required to be phased out from city roads. The buses, which hit roads in 2009 or 2010 will stop running in 2024 or 2025. Banerjee said that as part of the PPP model, private operators can run non-operating state-owned buses and pay Rs 14,000 a month to the transport corporation concerned. Already private operat

Indian cities cry out for UMTA

A unified metropolitan transport authority should be a game-changer for urban mass transport

Hyperloop can soon become a reality in India: Swisspod CEO Denis Tudor

Moonshot tech, once built at scale, may be used in freight first, says Swiss hyperloop innovator

Quite a hell of a ride

Ensuring road safety on India's highways needs a mission mode approach, if the country is to rid itself of the ignominious tag of being the most dangerous place in the world

About 80% of buses operational during Tamil Nadu transport unions strike

About 80 percent of buses in Tamil Nadu were being operated on Tuesday amid the strike call given by various transport unions, including those affiliated to the CPI(M) and AIADMK, officials said. The state government buses were operated in several parts including Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Kanyakumari districts, benefiting the commuters, they said. In Chennai, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) authorities ensured the buses were operated as usual and that the strike did not impact the public much, a senior official said. "The MTC buses were being operated as scheduled from 6 am and the public are requested not to panic," a senior transport official said. "About 80 percent" of the buses were being run in the state, he said without divulging further details. The trade unions had announced the strike demanding implementation of "6 point charter of demands." It includes initiation of talks for enhanced wages (15th wage revision pact), filling vacant posts, and release o

Delhi airport to have multi-modal transport hub near Aerocity: Operator

The new facility will help passengers from adjoining interstate cities to catch international flights

India's logistics cost 7.8-8.9% of GDP in FY22, shows govt survey

The World Bank has also reviewed the methodology and has acknowledged it has an appropriate baseline and framework to fine-tune it in the future, government officials said on Thursday

Uneven solution

Car rationing only partially addresses the pollution crisis

Common card for travel promises transport revolution in the country

The National Common Mobility Card will prompt the use of public transport, reduce the need for private vehicles and help the environment

Limit number of vehicles per family to curb air pollution, say experts

Rise in air pollution is linked to growing respiratory ailments in India, experts have said and urged the government to bring a policy limiting the number of cars per family and restricting the number of vehicles plying on roads at a time. On the sidelines of the 25th National Conference on Pulmonary Diseases (NAPCON-2023), organised by the Indian Chest Society here, Dr Rakesh K Chawla, the chairman of Pulmonology and Critical Care at Jaipur Golden Hospital, said air pollution has short-term as well as long-term effects on health. "The immediate effects are in the form of irritation in the eyes and throat. Also, there is an increase in the severity of asthma attacks," said Dr Chawla, who is also the organising chairman of NAPCON-2023. The conference was organised to discuss air pollution and diseases caused by it as well as the advancements in the field of pulmonology. Dr Chawla said the long-term effects of air pollution include respiratory diseases and lung cancer, and the worst

India needs efficient multi-modal transport system: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the country needs an efficient multi-modal transport system for which rail, road, air and water transportation should be dealt with in a holistic approach rather than in isolation. Addressing a group of 213 probationers (2019, 2020 and 2021 batches) from different services of the Indian Railways at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre here, she said unlike any commercial organisation the railways is a social lifeline of the country. Besides, it carries the dreams of ordinary people and at the same time, its nationwide connectivity showcases nation's diversity, the president said. "The country needs an efficient multi-modal transport system for which rail, road, air and water transportation should be dealt with a holistic approach and not in isolation. "I urge you all to work in coordination with the officers of other departments also for achieving the goal of an atmanirbhar and developed nation," Murmu told the probationers. Asserting th

To maximise efficiency, RapidX will move cargo during non-peak hours

To this end, the depots of the RapidX transport system will have warehouses, and different trains will be deployed to transport cargo

GatiShakti: Govt looks to develop local areas via national masterplan

Going forward, the focus will be development of a region as a whole, a senior government official said, adding that towards this, as many as 100 projects for area planning has already been taken up