Urbanisation and the challenge of ideal transit solutions
India’s Urban Future
By 2047, urban India is expected to be a key growth engine.
By the 2060s, 60% of India’s population is expected to shift from rural to urban areas.
Urban mobility (commute from homes to workplaces) will be a major challenge for planners.
Smart Cities vs Existing Metros
India aims to develop smart cities to reduce worker mobility needs.
Unlike China, India’s smart cities are slow to develop.
Existing Tier 1 cities are expanding rapidly, creating new transportation challenges.
2. Current Public Transport Access
Only 37% of urban Indians have easy access to public transport.
In comparison, Brazil and China have over 50% coverage.
India is lagging behind in building an efficient public transport system.
3. Metro Rail Challenges
Cost and Ridership Issues
Metro projects are expensive and funded mostly by the central government.
Most metro systems are not recovering costs due to:
Lower-than-expected ridership
High fixed and operational costs
Fare sensitivity (small increase = drop in users)
Last-Mile Problem
Commuters consider comfort, time, and cost.
Lack of affordable last-mile options reduces metro usage.
No Large Subsidies
Unlike developed countries, India cannot afford big, recurring public transport subsidies.
4. Alternative Transit Technologies
Government promotes electric, CNG, hydrogen, and biofuel vehicles.
However, trams and trolleybuses are often ignored, despite better long-term returns.
5. Government Initiatives
Recent Budget Measures
PM e-Bus Sewa and Payment Security Mechanism launched.
PM e-Drive Scheme introduced:
Targets: 14,000 e-buses, 1,10,000 e-rickshaws, e-trucks, and e-ambulances.
Gap in Urban Buses
India needs 2,00,000 urban buses.
Only 35,000 (including e-buses) are currently operational — far below the requirement.
6. Seeking Cost-Effective Alternatives
Need for Sustainable Investment
Metro expansion gets high budget allocation in metro/tier 1 cities.
But private investors hesitate due to uncertain profits.
Government now focuses more on costly e-buses over CNG options.
7. Revenue and Profitability Analysis
Long-Term Cost Comparison
Trams:
Profit of 45% over 70 years.
Align with climate goals.
Offer scalability and sustainability.
E-buses:
Suffer a net loss of 82% due to high operational and replacement costs.
Trolleybuses:
More efficient than e-buses but still incur minimal long-term losses.
8. Conclusion: Rethinking Transit Choices
Key Question: Are current investments sustainable and cost-effective?
India risks creating a system dependent on constant public subsidies.
The introduction of trams in Kochi could be a game changer.
- Reviving traditional modes (like Kolkata’s trams) may be a smart move toward a greener future.
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