Context

• As India envisions becoming a developed nation, Viksit Bharat, by 2047, urbanisation is poised to play a pivotal role.
• With over 60% of the population expected to shift from rural to urban areas by the 2060s, India stands at a crossroads.
• Urban India is anticipated to become the engine of economic growth, innovation, and development.
• However, this transformation hinges critically on how the nation addresses the growing challenges of urban mobility and public transportation.

Urbanisation and Its Mobility Challenge

• The massive rural-to-urban migration projected over the next few decades will inevitably test the capabilities of urban planners and policymakers.
• In theory, the development of smart cities was meant to ease this transition by integrating residential and workspaces, reducing the need for extensive daily commutes.
• However, the reality is less optimistic. Unlike China’s fast-developing smart cities, India’s efforts in this direction have been slow and uneven.
• As a result, existing metro and tier-1 cities are expanding rapidly, placing enormous pressure on infrastructure, particularly urban transportation.

Government Interventions and Gaps

• In response, the Indian government has introduced several initiatives to strengthen the public transport system.
• The 2024–25 Union Budget emphasized urban mobility, launching schemes such as the PM e-Bus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism and the PM e-Drive
• These aim to deploy 14,000 e-buses and over one lakh electric vehicles, including rickshaws and ambulances.
• While these efforts mark important progress, the gap remains vast, India needs an estimated 2,00,000 urban buses but currently operates only around 35,000, including e-buses.
• Metro rail projects have also received increased financial attention, particularly in high-density urban centres.
• However, only 37% of urban dwellers in India currently have convenient access to public transit, far below countries like Brazil and China, where the figure exceeds 50%.
• Metros, though promising in the long run, have struggled with cost recovery due to fare sensitivity, limited ridership, and expensive last-mile connectivity.
• Unlike in developed countries where metros are heavily subsidized, India’s financial constraints limit the extent of such support, making the model unsustainable in many cities.

The Need for Alternative Transit Solutions

• To make urban mobility more accessible and efficient, India must look beyond just metros and e-buses.
• Road-based public transportation, with better last-mile connectivity, offers a cost-effective solution.
• The government’s recent shift in focus, from CNG buses to electric buses, shows a willingness to innovate.
• However, this transition also brings higher costs, which may be counterproductive unless backed by sound financial planning.
• One major oversight in the current policy framework is the neglect of trams and trolleybuses, both proven modes of transport with long-term economic and environmental benefits.
• Trams, for example, offer a 45% long-term profitability over their seven-decade lifecycle, outperforming e-buses, which show a net loss of 82% over the same period.
• Trolleybuses, while not as profitable as trams, still perform better than many current options in terms of sustainability and cost.

Kochi’s Tram Initiative: A Model for the Future?

• The planned reintroduction of trams in Kochi could serve as a significant turning point in India's urban mobility strategy.
• Far from being a nostalgic nod to Kolkata's past, trams represent a smart, scalable, and climate-aligned solution.
• Their low operational costs, long life, and lower dependency on subsidies make them attractive for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. 

Conclusion: Rethinking the Transit Vision for Viksit Bharat

• As India moves toward 2047, a re-evaluation of its urban mobility policies is critical.
• While metro networks and e-buses are important, they must be complemented by more sustainable, financially viable, and inclusive modes such as trams and trolleybuses.
• The current trajectory, heavily reliant on subsidy-driven, cost-intensive systems, may not support the long-term goals of urban resilience and equitable growth.
• A diversified, bottom-up transit model, blending modern innovations with time-tested solutions, could hold the key to achieving Viksit Bharat in its truest sense.