urban road transportation part 1

URBAN ROAD TRANSPORTATION

PART 1

AN OVERVIEW OF URBAN ROAD TRANSPORTATION

The distribution of urban population by city size widely varies and is skewed towards larger cities. One specific feature of India’s urbanization is the increasing metropolitanization, that is, growth in the number and size of cities with a million plus population. The trends indicate the continued urbanization and metropolitanization in the years to come.

Often, there is a debate as to whether it is an index of development or distress. The very process of urbanization has sometimes been looked as something undesirable. While the objections used to be on social and moral grounds earlier, the criticism lately is more on economic grounds such as provision of requisite infrastructure and civic amenities at rapidly escalating per capita costs.

Despite all the objections, the rate of urbanization has not even retarded, not to speak of its being halted. Certain inevitability about the process is being accepted steadily. It is now felt that urbanization is necessary for the benefits of sharing modern technology for the growth and development of the entire national economy.

In India, urban areas contribute more than sixty percent of the national income. In the coming years, as India becomes more and more urbanized, urban areas will play a critical role in sustaining high rates of economic growth.



But, economic growth momentum can be sustained if and only if cities function efficiently - that their resources are used to maximize the cities’ contribution to national income. Economic efficiency of cities and well-being of urban inhabitants are directly influenced by mobility or the lack of it.

City efficiency largely depends upon the effectiveness of its transport systems, that is, efficacy with which people and goods are moved throughout the city.

Poor transport systems stifle economic growth and development, and the net effect may be a loss of competitiveness in both domestic as well as international markets.


As the urban population and income increases, demand for key services such as transportation, water, sewage treatment, and low income housing will increase to sevenfold in cities of every size and type.

In the past, policy makers in India have always stressed on checking rapid urbanization and migration through introduction of various schemes for rural households. In fact, urbanization is a result of the development process.

Despite the challenges, urbanization is an opportunity for furthering economic development and provision of quality of life.


Amongst various urban services, urban transport is a very important service for the overall development of the country. Urban transport provides mobility of people and goods and access to employment, education, shopping, health, entertainment opportunities.

It also affects the income levels of people, land values and environment. In nutshell, it determines the quality of life in an area.


Many cities are unable to meet the increasing demands for travel due to the prevailing imbalance in the modal split; inadequate transport infrastructure and its sub-optimal use; lack of integration between land-use and transport planning; and no improvement or little improvement in city bus services, these factors collectively encourage a shift to more personalized modes of travel.

In order to support the required level of economic activities in urban areas, it has become imperative to address urban transport issues on an urgent basis.


A number of innovative initiatives have been undertaken and some are under implementation to develop a sustainable urban transport system. Many cities have prepared Comprehensive Mobility Plans and have plans to introduce modern bus services; Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) are planned in fourteen cities and new metro rail systems are being planned/under implementation in eight cities.Of the various urban transport initiatives which have been undertaken, several initiatives/projects have been successful and can be replicated in other cities. Documentation of best practices as well as learning from challenges and constraints faced during the implementation process would be useful for future planning and implementation.

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urban road transportation part 1

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