BS EDIT: Fixing Urban Mobility

By Business StandardPublished On Feb 5, 2026

Cities Drive Growth

The Budget backs urban expansion with ₹12.2 trillion in infrastructure spending, new rail corridors, Metro expansion, and city economic regions

Congestion Is Costly

Workers lose up to ₹26,000 a year in Delhi; India’s biggest metros bleed $22 billion annually to traffic delays

A Global Red Flag

Bengaluru ranks second worldwide for congestion; India stands fifth globally and second in Asia

Assets Without Outcomes

Over 1,036 km of Metro is operational, but private vehicle dependence and weak last-mile links blunt its impact

The Bus Deficit

City bus fleets fall well short of norms, with nearly two-thirds concentrated in just nine mega cities

People, Not Vehicles

Growth demands people-centric mobility—more buses, walkable streets, shared transport, smart traffic systems, and TOD