CONTEXT

• Urbanisation in Viksit Bharat 2047: India is projected to become predominantly urban by the 2060s, with urban centres driving economic growth.
• Population Shift: Over 60% of the population is expected to migrate from rural to urban areas, putting immense pressure on city infrastructure and transit systems.
• Existing Urban Strain: Tier 1 cities continue expanding, yet struggle with transit inefficiencies; new smart cities are yet to become viable alternatives like in China.

CONCEPT

• Transit as Core Urban Infrastructure: Mobility from home to workplace is critical in urban productivity and liveability.
• Public Transport Expansion Focus:
  • PM e-Bus Sewa & PM e-Drive aim to promote electric mobility (e-buses, e-rickshaws, e-trucks).
  • Metro networks are expanding with central government support.
• Gap in Demand vs. Availability:
  • Urban bus requirement: 2,00,000; operational: only ~35,000.
  • Metro systems face high costs, underutilisation, and fare sensitivity challenges.
• Global Comparison:
  • Only 37% of India’s urban residents have easy public transport access, versus 50%+ in Brazil and China.
• Cost-Revenue Dilemma:
  • Most metro projects struggle to recover fixed and operational costs.
  • User reliance is shaped by last-mile connectivity, affordability, and travel time.
• Subsidy Constraints:
  • Unlike developed nations, India lacks financial capacity for heavy public transport subsidies.

CURRENT

• Budget Initiatives:
  • Increased outlay for e-buses, pushing electric mobility.
  • Focus on clean fuel alternatives: CNG, hydrogen, biofuel-based road transport.
• Alternative Transit Options:
  • Trams and trolleybuses neglected despite better long-term cost-efficiency.
  • Trams offer 45% long-term profitability; e-buses show 82% loss over 70 years.
• Private Sector Hesitance:
  • Investment remains low due to unclear profitability and high costs.
• Policy Implication:
  • India must prioritise financially sustainable, scalable, and green mobility.
  • Reviving trams (e.g., in Kochi) may offer a smarter, low-cost alternative.

MAINS QUESTION

Should we chase tech-driven, subsidy-heavy models or invest in proven, cost-effective transit like trams?