Top priority for public transport

Top priority for public transport

Plan to prevent e-mobility becoming a fad.

Electric power is the way to go for the transport sector, given the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. India, too, is taking measures to lay the foundation of such a transition. The government is finalising a policy that would help transition the sector away from the internal combustion engine and fossil fuels to electric vehicles and alternative fuels. In devising a policy for clean mobility, the government must prioritise mass transit over cars and private vehicles.

A shift away from fossil fuels to alternatives like methanol, ethanol, hydrogen or battery-stored power is essential to address the environmental, economic and health fallout of increased congestion. However, any solution that does not put mass public transport at its core will fail. This means greater investment in the sector but also working to change public attitudes, from seeing public transport as the option for those who cannot afford a personal vehicle or be part of the shared mobility experience such as taxis, autos, e-rickshaws and ridesharing, to accepting it as the first and smart choice for mobility for even those who own a private vehicle. Three things are essential for this transformation. First, public transport options must be accessible, affordable, predictable, reliable and safe. Second, the different modes of public transport such as bus, train, metro, tram, must be integrated. Third, last mile connectivity must be easy, whether through local shuttle buses or shared mobility options, affordable, reliable and available. Price gouging is not uncommon among the pliers of auto-, cycle- and e- rickshaws. Such practices drive up the cost of public transport while reducing its convenience, resulting in more trips using private vehicles or shared mobility options such as taxis, autos and ride sharing.

India is urbanising rapidly. New towns must be planned to minimise commutes and prioritise public transport. High density and mixed land use must be accompanied by public transport. Shared cycles will be possible at least in some places. Planning is the key.