Urban Transport Planning

The Centre is likely to launch a Rs 152 crore scheme for urban transport planning to encourage states to upgrade public transport systems which are crumbling in most cities, including the metros.The urban development ministry’s programme, aimed at promoting eco-friendly, safe, comfortable and affordable public transport, will push cities to take up studies to prepare detailed project reports (DPR) after comprehensive and thorough evaluation of alternate technologies.Under the scheme, approved by the Departmental Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), the Centre will provide 80% financial assistance to cities for taking up comprehensive transportation planning studies.Urban development minister S Jaipal Reddy, informed members of the parliamentary consultative committee that the scheme would also provide for pilot studies in certain cities with full central government funding.The studies would have a time horizon of at least two decades and would provide for needs of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised modes of transport.The ministry is concerned that comprehensive transport planning may be ineffective without land use master plans, specially in Tier II & III cities. An official said that the ministry was considering to make it conditional for state governments of cities, with less than five lakh population, to undertake land use planning to avail assistance for transport planning study. Considering that urban local bodies may not be in a position to commission studies and clearly define parameters for such studies, a separate cell at the state level is likely to be set up to provide technical guidance to municipal bodies.The UD ministry estimates that the total outlay required for urban transport during the 11th five-year plan is Rs 132,590 crore. Reddy mentioned that the scheme, already forwarded to the finance ministry, will help implement the National Urban Transport Policy from the planning stage.