NEED FOR A NATIONAL URBAN TRANSPORT POLICY: ANANTH KUMAR
Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation
Shri Ananth Kumar has emphasised the need for framing a National
Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) to provide adequate and affordable
mobility at reasonable speed to all sections of the society, to
ensure protection to environment and to promote fuel conservation
and safety, all on a sustainable basis. Inaugurating a Workshop
on National Urban Transport Policy, here today, Shri Ananth Kumar,
observing that mere policy definition is not enough, added that
such a policy should be supported by a legislative framework as
well as a resource generation mechanism.
"A desirable urban transport policy should provide
affordable accessibility and reasonable mobility to all sections
of the society, reduce and control pollution, optimize fuel consumption,
improve safety and be socially, environmentally and financially
sustainable. The policy should be dynamic and should take into
account the increasing population, ongoing urbanization and economic
growth" Shri Ananth Kumar stated.
The Minister stressed that a new comprehensive
Urban Transport Act should be drafted and enacted "to promote
the development of an integrated urban transport system and to
regulate urban transport services comprising various modes".
Shri Ananth Kumar further underlined the need
for creating a Special PurposesVehicle (SPV) at the national level
so that sufficient fund can be raised for implementing a city-specific
urban transport strategy. He indicated that the SPV may provide
funds for the required urban transport infrastructure in 35 cities
having more than one million population. The private sector should
also been encouraged to finance and manage the urban transport
services in the city.
"At present funds for various components of urban
transport come from budgetary allocations and users charges, where
applicable. The inadequacy and utter state of dis-repair of urban
transport infrastructure and services shows that these funds are
inadequate", the Minister observed.
Pointing out that setting up of an Urban Reform
Incentive Fund with an initial allocation of Rs. 500 crore was
announced in the Union Budget to provide reform linked assistance
to the States, Shri Ananth Kumar indicated that a part of the
Fund could be earmarked for financing urban infrastructure projects.
Stating that the entire urban transport system
in a city should be under one authority, Shri Ananth Kumar pointed
out that the designated agency should have the requisite powers
and resources to be effective. "The agency must have adequate
skills and should be fully empowered, with a resource generation
policy and comprehensive enabling legislation".
The Minister further observed that the urban
transport infrastructure should benefit all sections of the society
particularly to the weaker sections of the society and should
contribute substantially towards social equity.
The Workshop has been organized the Ministry
of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation in association with
the Institute of Urban Transport and National Capital Region Planning
Board.
