National Urban Transport Policy: a reorientation in urban transport thinking in India

1
National Urban Transport Policy a
re-orientation in urban transport thinking in
India

• Shreekant Gupta
• sgupta_at_niua.org
• National Institute of Urban Affairs
• New Delhi, India
• www.niua.org

2
The context (regional view)

• Growing economy and population
• Urbanisation and its attendant challenges
• Increasing dependence on personalised (motorised)
  modes of transport
• Commonality of urban problems across major
  (South) Asian cities

3
The context for India

• Worlds second largest urban system (285 million
  in 2001)
• Urban population 473 million (2021) and 820
  million (2051)
• Population in 6 biggest cities increased 2 times
  (1981-2001)
• Motor vehicles in these cities increased 8 times
  (1981-2001)
• Attendant costs
• Time
• Reduction in non-motorized modes (urban sprawl)
• Safety (accidents, deaths), esp. for NMVs,
  pedestrians, pavement dwellers
• Air quality

4
Response

• Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
  (JNNURM) improve urban infrastructure and
  governance and facilities for urban poor
• 63 cities (40 of urban population)
• 7 years (2005-2012)
• approx 24 billion (half from federal government)
• National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP)
  blueprint for urban transport for the country
• approved by Union Cabinet in April 2006
• focus- to move people- not vehicles
• Indian cities should be the most livable in the
  world and engines of economic growth

5
National Urban Transport Policy

• Objective is to ensure safe, affordable, quick,
  comfortable, reliable and sustainable access for
  growing number of city residents to jobs,
  education and other needs through)
• Improved public transport
• Facilities for use of non motorized vehicles
• Greater involvement of private sector
• Innovative financing mechanisms
• Reduced travel demand- better integration of land
  use and transport planning.
• Use of cleaner technology
• Better awareness
• Capacity building- individual and institutional

6
Need for a national policy

• India is a federal countryurban management and
  transport are functions of state and city
  governments not federal (central) government
• But several key agencies are within purview of
  central government
• Several laws dealing with urban transport
  administered by central government
• Coordinate actions of state governments
• National Urban Renewal Mission funds for urban
  transport to be guided by a national policy
  (NUTP)
• Need for coordinated capacity building, research
  and information dissemination

7
Integrating land use and planning

• Promote the development of integrated land use
  and transport plans for all cities, esp. those
  under JNNURM
• Support and fund (50) city and state governments
  to prepare such plans
• Need to integrate these plans into City
  Development Plans being prepared under JNNURM

8
Putting people first...

• Equitable allocation of road space (public vs.
  private modes of transport)
• Priority to use of public transport (all million
  plus cities to plan for high capacity transport
  systems)
• Federal support up to 20 of capital cost of
  public transport projects (up to 50 when
  public-private partnership)

9
Priority to non-motorized modes

• Arrest decline of non-motorized vehicle (NMV)
  trips (urban sprawl, bad design of roads, etc.)
• Dedicated lanes/spaces for cyclists, pedestrians
• Under JNNURM only fund NUTP-compliant and people
  friendly, NMV friendly projects

10
Parking

• Uses up land a valuable and scarce urban
  resource
• Parking fees to reflect opportunity cost of land
• Preference to public transport and non-motorized
  modes

11
Build capacity

• Capabilities of state and city governments is
  limited/weak
• Enhance institutional and individual capacity
• Develop databases
• Promote joint ventures and collaboration
  agreements

12
Promote cleaner technologies

• Timeline for progressively tighter emission norms
• Promote RD and commercialization of cleaner
  technologies

13
Innovative financing mechanisms

• Earmark tax revenues for urban transport (on
  fuel, betterment levies, etc.)
• Use land as a resource
• Involve private sector

14
In conclusion

• NUTP is a landmark policy in the field of urban
  transport
• Created an enabling framework
• Committed federal support and funds to this
  sector
• State and city governments have to now rise to
  the challenge