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Expanding public transport

The report of the Planning Commission's working group for the 11th Five Year Plan on urban transport contains welcome recognition of the mobility crisis that is affecting the quality of life in the cities. In six major metropolises, it says, the population grew 1.89 times between 1981 and 2001 but the registered vehicles increased 7.75 times during the same period. This indicates declining policy support to public transport, walking and cycling, leading to unhealthy automobile dependence. As the panel points out, city residents are experiencing several negative impacts of motorisation such as congestion, loss of productivity, air pollution, and risk of accidents. It is evident that after economic liberalisation, State governments failed to anticipate the pace of growth and urbanisation. They have failed to cater to the need for better road infrastructure and, even more important, made no plans to introduce modern public transport systems capable of moving millions of people efficiently. Consequently, most urban bus and rail systems operate with obsolete technology and service concepts. There is no transport regulator to fix prices and assess commuter needs. The way forward during the 11th Plan would be to fundamentally change the concept of public transport provision. A dedicated cess on vehicles and fuel consumption is part of the solution. This can augment the public transport infrastructure and keep fares low. The working group suggests additional options such as a tax on pollution, road use, and congestion (which has worked well in London) but a fuel cess would be easier to implement.

There is a good case for a dedicated levy on fuel consumption because it privileges public mobility and keeps transport costs low, especially for the poor. Based on the 2001 census, it is estimated that a third of all city dwellers are low wage earners and are unlikely to use their own vehicles; neither are senior citizens, many women, children and the disabled. A cess will help these groups by subsidising public transport. To manage such a levy, though, a competent regulator is necessary. The experience in forming regulatory bodies for transport has been disappointing so far. The National Urban Transport Policy has called for integration of transport modes in million-plus cities through a statutory Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) and introduction of a single ticket for bus and rail travel, but this has not taken place even in the metros. Given the tardy record of the States, the Centre can make its grants under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission contingent on the creation of UMTA.

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