India’s Urban Mobility Crisis

India is treading down a dangerous path. The country is at a crossroads, much like the West was for most of the 20th century. It needs to make critical decisions that will shape life in urban India for the next few decades. India’s urban centers are grappling with a rapidly growing population and a corresponding surge in private vehicle ownership, leading to unprecedented traffic congestion, air pollution, and a decline in the overall quality of life. This escalating crisis is a direct consequence of decades of urban planning that has prioritized private cars over efficient and equitable public transportation systems. The decisions made today will be crucial in deciding whether India will be able to provide liveable urban centres for the generations to come.

The Current Indian Scenario:

Public transport systems in India differ from city to city. But, most of them suffer from the same set of underlying problems to varying degrees. Public transport policies in most metro cities in the 21st century have been characterized by an overdependence on creating metro rail systems. A major chunk of budgets allocated to urban transit have been used to build and maintain metro lines, leading to a relative neglect of other crucial public transport modes like bus systems.

The ‘one size fits all’ policies of various governments have resulted in transit systems with a myriad of insufficiencies. Areas not covered by metro rail/suburban rail systems severely lack transit options altogether, compelling citizens to depend on private vehicles. Additionally, the present approach has failed in harnessing the full potential of the government-favourite metro rail systems. The lack of last-mile connectivity along with unwalkable streets have further deepened this concern.

Observe that Bengaluru, despite having the most number of buses/mil in India, severely underperforms compared to international benchmarks. It is important to note that London, Singapore and Seoul have robust metro/local rail systems unlike Bengaluru.

In addition to inadequate public transport policies, governments across the country have taken up projects that negatively affect people and quality of life. Authorities have been largely focused on moving cars and not people, going against the basic tenets of urban planning. Projects like the Tunnel Roads in Bengaluru and the Mumbai Coastal Road are short-sighted and fail to address the root causes of the problem. While they may alleviate traffic congestion momentarily, they tend to invite ‘induced demand’ which in turn makes these very projects counterproductive.

(In Pic) Congestion on the Katy Freeway in Houston TX, the widest road in the world with up to 26 lanes. Goes to show that adding more lanes is never the solution.

The destruction of Mumbai’s Coast. Now, imagine a pedestrian-only avenue with trams running up and down instead.

Cities must prioritise moving people, not cars. Public transit options like buses and trains can carry exponentially more people than private vehicles. It’s time to demand more of these sustainable solutions rather than the construction of flyovers and underpasses. There exists a problem with the people too. There is no need to take a two-wheeler to the neighbourhood supermarket. These actions further aid in the neglect of pedestrian infrastructure in our cities.

What needs to be done:

India urgently needs to learn from the mistakes of its counterparts. Issues such as inadequate public transport and non-pedestrian-friendly streets have to gain prominent social attention. The people need to make them politically important and demand better urban planning and infrastructure from their leaders. This requires a fundamental shift in public mindset, where the conversation moves from the convenience of private vehicles to the necessity of robust public systems that serve all citizens equally.

There is something that the public can do that can have tremendous immediate effects. The citizens have to, unfortunately, bear the uncomfortable experience of public transport in India by choosing to ditch their cars and two-wheelers. This temporary measure, if adopted by a large enough section of the society, will invariably force governments to at least converse and bring these issues to the forefront. Delhi, to its credit, has shown some progress in this front. The comprehensive metro system, albeit lacking effective last mile transport, has given rise to private e-rickshaws that fill in the gap left by government agencies, going on to show that a tectonic shift would eventually result in positive outcomes.

Some positive signs:

Fortunately, the situation is not without its silver linings. Recent surveys reveal a promising trend: a significant portion of the population is ready and willing to embrace public transportation, provided it meets a certain standard of quality and convenience.

Additionally, cities are responding. Metro systems are expanding at a commendable pace across the nation, offering a glimpse of a future with reduced traffic congestion. Bengaluru is projected to have a fleet of 10,000 buses in the next few years, a figure many urban planners consider ideal for a metropolis of its size.

Furthermore, we are beginning to see examples of what is possible. In some urban centers, streets are being redesigned to international standards, featuring wide, pedestrian-friendly footpaths that prioritize walkers over vehicles. These developments, while currently limited, go to show that it is possible. The challenge now is to accelerate these positive changes, to fast-track these projects and expand them with an underlying sense of urgency.

TenderSURE roads are a common sight in most parts of central Bengaluru. A citywide implementation coupled with designated pedestrian zones could prove wonders for mobility and quality of life.