National Urban Transport Policy emphasises on ‘moving people’ instead of ‘moving vehicles’. Discuss critically the success of the various strategies of the Government in this regard.

1. Roads provide door to door connectivity

2. Railways provide cheap mode of distant transport upto long distance e.g Lucknow mail connects Delhi to Lucknow

3. Water-ways or ships provide inter-continental connectivity.

II. Logistical efficiency

1. Railways - Carry bulk products from raw-material sources to production zones

1. Roads - Provide efficient transport & with reefer vans for perishable products.

2. Airways - suitable for light-weight expensive cargo e.g vaccines.

3. Waterways - transport huge cargo across countries e.g food-grains.

III. Address pollution

1. Reducing road-traffic congestion

2. Promotes efficient utilization of inland-waterways and ports - less release of pollutants.

IV. Addresses congestion

1. By connecting and linking transport modes.

2. Efficient Interoperability with different modes through GPS → less duplication and congestion.

Measures needed

1. Development of multi-modal logistical parks (India developing 35 MMLPs)

2. Enhance the utilization of inland waterways (currently <0.5% model share)

3. Improve the transport infrastructure roads, railways etc

4. Integrated Smart Transport systems to utilize technology to connect.

5. Improve the number of trains and railway route

6. Better port-to-hinterland connectivity