MASS TRANSPORT IN INDIA
Geography
INTRODUCTION
• Rapid urbanisation in India has made transportation a critical issue in cities.
• Traffic congestion reduces mobility, productivity and quality of life.
• About 31% of India’s population lives in urban areas, contributing nearly 63% of GDP.
• By 2030, urban population is expected to reach about 40% and contribute nearly 75% of GDP.
• The share of public transport is declining, increasing pressure on roads and environment.
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MEANING OF MASS TRANSPORT
• Mass transport refers to a system that carries a large number of people efficiently using shared modes like buses, metro, rail, etc.
• It is the backbone of sustainable urban development.
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TYPES OF URBAN MASS TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
1. Bus Ways and Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS)
• Dedicated and segregated lanes for buses.
• Priority signaling at intersections.
• Cost-effective and flexible.
2. Light Rail Transit (LRT)
• At-grade rail system, generally segregated from main traffic.
• Medium capacity system.
3. Tramways
• At-grade rail system moving in mixed traffic.
• Lower speed but cheaper infrastructure.
4. Metro Rail
• Fully segregated high-capacity system.
• Can be underground, elevated or at-grade.
• Includes monorail systems.
5. Regional Rail
• Connects suburbs and outskirts to city centres.
• Reduces congestion in core urban areas.
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UTILITY AND IMPORTANCE OF MASS TRANSPORT
• Increases productive man-hours by reducing travel time.
• Supports urban agglomeration and economic clustering.
• Improves access to jobs and labour markets.
• Reduces air pollution and health hazards.
• Promotes waterway transport for eco-friendly mobility.
• Acts as a complementary system to private transport.
• Reduces dependence on personal vehicles.
• Ensures last-mile connectivity.
• Improves quality of life through safer, faster and cheaper mobility.
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MAJOR CHALLENGES
• Road congestion due to vehicle explosion.
• Parking problems because of unplanned urban growth.
• Severe air pollution in cities.
• Deteriorating road safety and high accident rates.
• Lack of comprehensive transport legislation.
• Shortage of skilled manpower in urban transport management.
• Weak regulation by umbrella authorities.
• Multi-purpose use of roads slows traffic.
• High cost of mass transport systems.
• Deficient public transport availability.
• Poor quality road infrastructure.
• Safety concerns for pedestrians and commuters.
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GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES AND MEASURES
• National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) – Focus on public transport oriented development.
• Green Mobility and FAME Scheme – Promotion of electric vehicles.
• JNNURM – Funding for urban transport infrastructure.
• National Rail Plan – Multimodal transport integration.
• Integrated Public Transport Systems – End-to-end connectivity.
• Common Mobility Card – Seamless travel across modes.
• UDAN Scheme – Regional air connectivity.
• National Transport Master Plan – Integrated multimodal logistics and mobility network.
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FUTURE PROSPECTS AND WAY FORWARD
• Promotion of electric and non-polluting transport.
• Expansion of charging infrastructure for EVs.
• Global partnerships in mobility solutions.
• Unified ticketing and payment systems.
• Disabled-friendly transport infrastructure.
• Innovative policy measures to control private vehicle growth.
• Multimodal integration for seamless connectivity.
• Use of technology like smart ticketing, traffic management systems.
• Increased investment in public transport and last-mile connectivity.
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CONCLUSION
• Mass transport is essential for sustainable, inclusive and efficient urban development.
• Strengthening public transport is the key to reducing congestion, pollution and inequality in Indian cities.
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Subject: Geography
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