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Union Minister for Urban Development & Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, today said that the central government would promote investments in public transport infrastructure by way of appropriate incentives so that public transport is made more attractive than personal motor vehicles. “We will encourage each city with a population of more than 4 million to plan for Mass Rapid Transit System by adopting appropriate technologies”, he said. Shri Azad was addressing the delegates at Chief Ministers’ Conference convened to finalize National Urban Transport Policy.
Shri Azad also added that while there is a general consensus on the need to evolve common urban transport policy keeping in mind the growing population in urban areas, state governments would be free to adopt various modes of transport depending upon the geography and population in those areas. He promised to extend 60% central assistance for the preparation of Detailed Project Report and with further financial support in the form of equity participation, viability gap funding, once the projects are approved.
The Minister indicated that the proposed National Urban Renewal Mission will help in promoting non-motorized modes of transport by way of construction of separate ways for bicycles and pedestrians, bypasses, container depots and truck parking terminals, outside the city limits. He also added that central government will encourage research development and commercialization of cleaner technologies.
The Draft National Policy on Urban Transport proposes:
· Central assistance to the extent of 50% subsidy for the preparation of integrated land use and transport plans.
· Setting up of Unified Metropolitan Transport Authorities for better co-ordinated planning among departments like PWD, Urban Development, Railways, Municipal Corporations, Pollution Control Boards, Police and Transport Departments.
· Equitable allocation of road space with focus on people and not motor vehicles.
· Priority to urban transport by way of central assistance for feasibility studies and financial support by way of equity participation and viability gap funding, if the right technologies are chosen, innovative methods of additional resource mobilization are adopted.
· Increased use of non-motorized transports by way of construction of segregated rights of way, central assistance for cycle tracks and pedestrians paths, support for research in improved bicycle designs.
· Discouraging use of personal motor vehicles by way of high parking fees, levy on petrol and diesel sold within a city, limiting roads space for personal vehicles.
· Mandatory parking space for all commercial and residential properties, parking fees in tune with the cost of urban space occupied, preference in allocating parking space to public transport and non-motorized modes.
· Innovative financing by way of dedicated taxes and levies, prioritizing investment in public transport and non-motorized transport, commercial exploitation of land and air rights.
There was general consensus among the participating States on the need for a comprehensive land-use and transport planning, co-ordanted actions by different state agencies under Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority, discouraging use of private vehicles, increased use of public transport, awareness campaigns, freight transport regulations, construction of by-passes, etc. Financial assistance was promised to all million plus cities and capital cities of all States/UTs for taking up viable transport projects under National Urban Renewal Mission so that each State/UT has at least one city eligible for assistance, irrespective of the size of the population. Suggestions of state governments for inclusion of water transport within the ambit of this policy and for assistance to smaller cities and hilly areas/states were also noted.
HRK/SK
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