The Centre acted on the recommendations of a high-power committee set up last year to find ways to decongest the capital. As a first step toward a people-friendly transport system, the ministry will deploy a fleet of 2,000 buses in the coming months and add 4,000 more later. “The explosive growth in automobile population needs to be checked quickly by adopting a carrot-and-stick policy of enabling increased use of public and non-motorised transport and dis-incentivising use of private vehicles through deterrent parking prices and congestion tax,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The committee has also recommended not constructing more flyovers or widening roads. It has suggested that gated communities be turned into free zones so people can walk through them and use those as short-cuts. The ministry is also mulling over setting up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!